This  book  must  not 
be  taken  from  the 
Library  building. 


c 


Form  No.  471 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/reportonwaterpow1857swai 


Tenth  Census  of  the  United  Stat  es ,   volmis  XVI 


Report  on  the  Water-Power  of  the  South  Atlantic  Watershed 
George  I".  Swain,  S.  B,  ,  Engineer 


Washing t on 
Government  Printing  Office 
1335 


3>S 


REPORT  ON  THE  SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


PREFATORY  LETTER 


Boston,  Mass.,  September  20,  1881. 

Prof.  W.  P.  Trowbridge, 

Columbia  College,  New  York  City. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  my  report  on  the  water-power  of  the  streams  draining  what  I  have 
designated  as  the  "Southern  Atlantic  Water- shed",  or,  in  other  words,  of  the  streams  flowing  into  the  Atlantic 
south  of  the  James  river.  My  report  on  the  streams  of  the  middle  Atlantic  water-shed,  comprising  the  streams  as 
far  north  as  the  Hudson,  is  in  course  of  preparation,  and  will  be  duly  submitted  when  completed.  In  making  this 
division  of  the  territory  assigned  me  I  have  been  guided  by  a  desire  to  group  together  such  streams  as  possess 
the  greatest  number  of  features  in  common,  and  it  seemed  as  though  the  line  had  best  be  drawn  at  about  the 
southern  limit  of  the  state  of  Virginia,  which  is  often  classed  as  one  of  the  middle  states. 

Following  the  directions  which  I  have  from  time  to  time  received  from  you,  I  have  traveled  over  most  of  the 
country  covered  by  this  report,  and  have  collected  as  much  information  as  was  possible  with  the  time  at  disposal. 
With  so  large  a  territory  to  traverse  in  so  short  a  time,  anything  like  thoroughness  has,  of  course,  been  impossible, 
and  my  work  must  be  considered  a  rough  reconuoissance  only.  I  have  been  able  to  visit  in  person  only  a  few  of 
the  water-powers  in  my  district,  many  of  which  are  inaccessible ;  and,  for  information  regarding  even  some  of  the 
important  ones,  I  have  been  obliged  to  depend  on  hearsay  or  on  correspondence.  Even  in  the  case  of  powers 
which  I  visited  I  am  able,  in  many  cases,  to  present  only  their  general  features,  having  been  unable  to  spare 
the  time  necessary  for  a  detailed  examination.  The  only  instrument  of  measurement  used  was  a  Locke  pocket-level, 
with  which  I  was  enabled  to  arrive,  in  some  cases,  at  quite  close  approximations  to  the  fall,  while  in  others  the 
results  obtained  are  liable  to  large  error.  Those  who  have  used  the  instrument  will  testify  to  the  fact  that,  when 
long  sights  have  to  be  taken,  the  want  of  sensitiveness  of  the  bubble  renders  accurate  results  impossible.  In  one 
case  I  was  enabled  to  make  use  of  an  aneroid  barometer,  kindly  loaned  me  for  the  occasion  by  Professor  Kerr,  the 
state  geologist  of  North  Carolina,  but  with  this  single  exception  the  pocket-level  was  the  only  instrument  of 
measurement  used. 

In  preparing  this  report  I  have  made  use  of  all  the  material  within  my  reach,  giving  due  acknowledgment  in 
each  case  where  other  reports  or  publications  have  been  used  extensively.    To  the  reports  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers, 
U.  S.  A.,  and  those  of  the  officers  of  the  corps,  I  am  indebted  for  so  much  information  that  it  would  be  useless 
to  attempt  to  refer  to  the  authority  for  each  statement  taken  from  them,  when  it  is  not  of  particular  importance. 
To  the  officers  themselves,  and  their  assistants,  I  am  also  personally  indebted  for  valuable  aid,  advice,  and 
information  while  at  work  in  the  field.    My  acknowledgments  are  also  due  in  this  place  to  the  officers  and  engineers 
of  the  various  railroads  in  the  district,  who  have,  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  interest,  furnished  me  with 
^    elevations  of  streams  along  their  roads,  and  with  general  information  concerning  the  country.    To  civil  engineers, 
0^     state  officers,  and  private  citizens,  all  through  the  district,  I  am  indebted  for  the  greatest  encouragement  in  the 
C^,    prosecution  of  my  work,  and  for  information  of  all  kinds.    Particularly  must  I  here  acknowledge  the  obligations  I 
am  under  to  Prof.  W.  C.  Kerr,  state  geologist  of  North  Carolina,  for  copies  of  reports  on  geology  and  allied  subjects 
Aa    bearing  on  water-power,  and  for  aid  and  advice  in  very  mamy  cases.    To  him  is  due  chiefly  whatever  success  may 
be  found  to  have  attended  my  efforts  to  present  an  adequate  view  of  the  water-power  of  his  state. 

665-5 


6 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  discussing  the  material  thus  collected  T  have,  after  dividing  my  district  into  the  two  divisions  above  named, 
prefaced  the  descriptions  of  the  various  rivers  by  a  general  description  of  the  districts  so  far  as  their  common 
characteristics  are  concerned.  In  giving  information  regarding  particular  powers  I  have  endeavored  to  let  each 
statement  pass  for  what  it  is  worth,  and  for  no  more;  and  where  inaccuracies  are  liable  to  occur,  I  have  repeatedly 
called  attention  to  them. 

The  drainage  areas  given  in  the  report  were  measured  geometrically,  there  being  no  planimeter  in  possession 
of  the  office  at  the  time  they  were  determined.  I  have,  however,  checked  them  in  so  many  ways  that  I  believe 
them  to  be  accurate  measurements  of  the  areas  as  taken  from  the  maps.  The  latter  are,  in  many  cases,  so 
inaccurate  that  slight  errors  in  measurement  are  of  no  importance.  I  have  uniformly  used  Colton's  largest  maps 
of  the  separate  states,  which  were  the  best  I  could  find.  In  checking  my  measurements  of  the  drainage-basins  of 
the  larger  streams,  by  comparing  them  with  those  of  Mr.  Gannett,  published  in  Census  Bulletin  No.  78, 1  have  had 
the  satisfaction  of  finding  that  the  two  agree,  generally,  within  1  or  2  per  cent. 

In  making  estimates  of  the  amount  of  power  available  at  the  various  sites  I  have  endeavored  to  proceed 
according  to  the  most  approved  methods  in  use  in  this  country,  and  to  pay  proper  attention  to  the  most  advanced 
and  recent  investigations  in  this  direction.  Having  fully  explained,  in  the  introduction,  the  methods  I  have  used, 
it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  do  more  here  than  to  call  attention  to  this  point.  In  view  of  the  uncertainty  attending 
all  such  estimates  of  power,  in  the  absence  of  a  series  of  gaugings  of  the  streams  in  question,  it  may  seem  that  I 
have  gone  too  far  in  this  direction ;  but  it  has  appeared  to  me  that  it  was  essential  to  give  some  idea  of  the  amount 
of  power  which  could  be  fairly  expected  at  each  important  site,  in  order  that  people  might  not  be  misled  by  too 
high  estimates,  which  are  the  rule  and  not  the  exception. 

Finally,  regarding  the  arrangement  of  this  report,  it  is  to  be  remarked  that,  although  a  logical  arrangement 
would  probably  have  placed  this  report  on  the  southern  Atlantic  water-shed  after  that  on  the  middle  Atlantic 
water-shed,  various  causes  have  combined  to  render  it  advisable  to  prepare  and  submit  the  present  report  first ; 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  completeness  of  the  data  at  hand,  and  the  fact  that  I  consider  this  report,  on 
the  whole,  the  more  important  of  the  two.  It  is  hoped  that  this  sacrifice  of  logical  sequence  will  not  involve  any 
loss  of  clearness. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  F.  SWAIN, 

Special  Agent. 


666 


THE  SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


Having  divided  the  territory  covered  by  my  examination  into  two  districts,  the  middle  and  the  southern 
Atlantic  water-sheds  (the  boundary  between  the  two  being  the  ridge  between  the  basins  of  the  James  river  and 
the  streams  south),  I  proceed  first  to  discuss  the  second  of  these  districts. 

The  state  of  Florida  will  for  the  present  be  left  out  of  consideration,  partly  because  it  possesses  no  water-power 
of  importance,  and  partly  because  its  peculiar  situation  renders  its  climate,  in  some  respects,  different  from  that  of 
the  other  southern  Atlantic  states.  The  few  remarks  that  are  to  be  made  regarding  Florida  will  be  found  at  the 
end  of  this  report. 

The  general  characteristics  of  the  territory  considered  will  first  be  given,  and  afterward  a  discussion  of  each 
stream  separately. 

GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 
1.— Area  and  form. 

The  area  to  be  considered  comprises  about  117,350  square  miles,  distributed,  approximately,  as  follows  among 


the  different  states : 

Square  miles. 

Virginia   10,350 

North  Carolina   45,  000 

South  Carolina   31,  000 

Georgia   31,000 


Total....   117,350 


This  area  is  in  the  shape  of  a  strip  lying  along  the  Atlantic  ocean  between  the  parallels  of  (nearly)  30£° 
and  36 £°  north  latitude,  and  with  an  average  breadth,  at  right  angles  to  the  coast,  of  about  240  miles,  except  in 
the  extreme  southern  part,  where  it  narrows  down  to  about  GO  miles.  The  general  direction  of  the  coast-line  is 
northeast  and  southwest,  turning  quite  abruptly  to  the  north  in  North  Carolina,  and  curving  toward  the  south  in 
Georgia. 

2. — Geographical  and  continental  position. 

The  district  considered  is  therefore  in  the  north  temperate  zone,  and  in  the  zone  in  which  the  prevailing  winds 
are  the  return  trades,  which  blow  from  the  southwest.  The  winds  are,  however,  not  constant,  but  blow  from  all 
points  of  the  compass,  and  the  prevailing  ones  from  different  points,  according  to  the  season.  I  shall  discuss  the 
winds  more  fully  under  the  head  of  "  climate",  and  it  will  suffice  to  say  here  that,  in  consequence  of  the  continental 
position  of  the  region  considered — extending  almost  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  flanked  on  the  west  by  the  system 
of  the  Alleghanies — the  winds  from  all  points  of  the  compass,  from  northeast,  through  east  and  south,  to  southwest, 
are,  to  a  certain  degree,  oceanic,  varying  in  different  parts  of  the  region,  while  the  distinctly  land-winds  are  those 
from  the  west,  northwest,  and  north.  This  district  is,  in  fact,  directly  in  the  line  of  the  return  trades,  which  blow 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  carrying  its  vapors  far  inland,  and  far  along  the  coast,  even  so  far  as  Virginia,  the 
influence  of  the  Gulf  being,  as  regards  moisture  and  rain  fall,  much  more  sensible  than  that  of  the  Atlantic  ocean 
as  regards  the  region  as  a  whole. 

3. — Topography. 

The  district  under  consideration  maybe  divided,  topographically,  into  three  distinct  and  well  deh  tied  divisions, 
viz,  the  lower  or  eastern,  the  middle,  and  the  mountainous  or  western. 

667—7 


8 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  eastern  division  extends  from  the  coast  inland  for  a  distance  varying  between  100  and  140  miles,  and 
including  the  navigable  portions  of  the  rivers.  Its  boundary  inland  is  a  line  passing  through  Eichmond  and 
Petersburg,  Virginia;  Weldon,  Eocky  Mount,  Smithfleld,  North  Carolina;  a  little  above  Fayette ville,  North  Carolina, 
Cheraw  and  Camden,  South  Carolina;  and  through  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  and  Augusta,  Milled ge ville,  Macon, 
and  Columbus,  Georgia.  This  line  plays  a  very  important  part  in  the  topography,  geology,  and  water-power  of  the 
country,  and  is  nothing  more  than  the  continuation  of  the  line  which  may  be  designated  as  the  fall-line,  and  which 
extends  through  the  middle  states,  passing  through  Fredericksburg  and  Georgetown.  It  may  be  traced  beyond 
Columbus  for  some  distance  along  the  Gulf,  passing  through  Wetumpka  and  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama.  In  the  northern 
part  of  this  district  tide-water  extends  up  to  the  fall-line,  as  at  Eichmond  and  Petersburg,  but  in  the  southern  part 
the  line  is  a  long  distance  above  tide-water.  In  anotker  place  I  shall  refer  to  this  line  and  the  important  water- 
powers  connected  with  it.  The  country  between  it  and  the  coast  belongs,  geologically,  to  the  Tertiary  and  Post- 
tertiary  formations,  and  "  is  for  the  most  part  nearly  level  or  very  gently  undulating,  except  along  the  river 
courses,  on  the  upper  reaches  of  which  rise  bluffs  and  small  bills".*  It  comprises  nearly  two-fifths  of  the  area  of 
North  Carolina,!  over  one-half  of  that  of  South  Carolina,  and  about  two-thirds  of  that  part  of  Georgia  which  we 
are  considering.  Its  slope  seaward  in  North  Carolina  is  between  one  and  two  feet  to  the  mile,*  and  is  probably 
about  the  same  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  Its  average  elevation  above  the  sea  is  probably  in  the  neighborhood 
of  150  or  175  feet,  and  the  slope  toward  the  sea  is,  on  the  whole,  uniform. 

The  rivers  in  this  division  are  sluggish  and  navigable  streams,  frequently  tidal  for  20  or  30  miles  from  their 
mouths,  and  flow  in  beds  composed  of  sand  and  clay.  They  are  often  exceedingly  tortuous,  and  the  chief 
obstructions  to  navigation  consist  in  shifting  sand-bars,  snags,  and  trees,  which  have  been  undermined  and  haA^e 
fallen  over  into  the  stream.  The  banks  are  unstable,  and  although  the  rivers  do  not  rise  very  high  in  freshets  in 
this  part  of  their  course,  they  frequently  undermine  the  banks,  and  even  cut  new  channels  for  themselves,  in 
consequence  of  their  extreme  tortuosity,  although  they  are  not  so  crooked  as  many  of  the  western  streams.  We 
shall  notice,  farther  on,  the  bearing  of  these  facts  on  the  availability  or  accessibility  of  the  water-powers. 

The  river,  valleys  in  this  division  are  characterized  by  having  their  longest  slopes  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
from  which  side  also  the  principal  tributaries  enter — facts  which  have  been  clearly  explained  by  Professor  Kerr. 

The  middle  division,  or  hill  country,  extends  from  the  fall-line  to  the  base  of  the  mountains,  with  an  average 
width  of  from  about  100  or  120  miles  in  the  south  to  150  in  the  north.  It  includes  nearly  one-half  of  North  Carolina, 
nearly  one-half  of  South  Carolina,  and  about  one-third  of  that  part  of  Georgia  which  we  are  considering.  Its 
boundaries  are,  topographically,  not  very  sharply  defined,  and  it  forms  a  term  of  transition  from  the  sea-board  plane 
to  the  mountains.    Geologically,  almost  the  entire  region  is  metamorphic. 

The  average  elevation  above  the  sea  of  the  streams  at  the  fall-line  is  probably  not  far  from  125  feet,  varying 
from  about  250  feet  in  the  south  to  about  50  feet  in  the  north.  The  following  list  of  elevations  of  streams  will  show 
how  the  elevation  varies  between  Eichmond,  Virginia,  and  Macon,  Georgia.  I  am  indebted  for  the  figures  to 
various  railroad  managers  and  engineers,  and  to  other  sources :  % 


River. 


James  

Appomattox 

Roanoke  

Tar  

Neuse  

Cape  Fear... 

Pee  Dee  

Wateree  

Congaree  ... 
Savannah  ... 
Ogeechee  . . . 

Oconee   

Ocmulgee  . . . 


Richmond,  Va. 
Petersburg,  Va. 
Weldon,  N.  C . 
Rocky  Mount,  N.  C. 
Smithfleld,  N.  C. 
Averysboro',  N.  C  . 
C.  C.  R.  R.  crossing 
10  miles  above  Camden. 
Columbia,  S.  C. 
Augusta,  Ga . 

Shoals  of  Ogeechee,  8 J  miles  below  Mayfleld,  Ga. 
Milledgeville,  Ga. 
Macon,  Ga  


250.0 


The  average  elevation  of  the  ground  along  the  fall-line  is  greater,  probably  averaging  200  feet,  varying  from 
300  feet  in  Georgia  to  100  feet  in  Virginia  and  northern  North  Carolina.  The  average  elevation  of  the  upper  limit 
of  the  middle  division  may  be  taken  at  about  1,200  feet,  and  the  average  elevation  of  the  whole  district  at  about 


*  Geology  of  North  Carolina,  vol.  i,  W.  C.  Kerr. 
t  Prof.  Kerr,  Geology  of  North  Carolina. 

tThis  table  is  only  a  rough  approximation.  It  was  not  possible  to  get  accurate  elevations  on  account  of  differences  in  the  datum- 
planes  used  by  the  various  railroad  companies.  For  instance,  Eichmond  and  Petersburg  are  at  the  heads  of  tide- water;  yet  the  rivers 
there  are  probably  several  feet  above  mean  tide  at  Norfolk.    In  some  cases  the  above  figures  have  been  obtained  by  estimating  the  fall 

above  points  whose  elevations  were  given. 

CC3 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


9 


700  feet.  Its  average  slope  is,  therefore,  not  less  than  5  or  6  feet  to  the  mile.  The  character  of  this  division  varies 
by  insensible  degrees  from  that  of  the  flat  eastern  division  to  that  of  the  mountainous  western  one.  The  eastern 
part  is  gently  rolling,  while  the  western  is  penetrated  by  numerous  spurs  of  the  mountains,  forming  divides 
between  the  great  river-basins,  and  sometimes  with  elevations  exceeding  3,000  feet. 

The  rivers  in  this  region  are  tolerably  rapid,  and  well  suited  for  the  development  of  water-power.  They  are 
not  navigable,  on  account  of  the  numerous  shoals  and  ledges,  though  some  of  them  might  be  made  so.  Almost  all 
of  the  water-power  now  used  is  in  this  section. 

The  western  or  mountainous  division  comprises  the  Atlantic  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  occupies  but  a  small 
part  of  the  area  under  consideration.  The  general  direction  of  the  Blue  Bidge  is  about  NE.,  a  little  E.,  nearly 
parallel  to  the  coast,  and  it  is  in  North  Carolina  that  the  system  to  which  it  belongs  attains  its  greatest  altitude, 
some  of  the  peaks  attaining  an  elevation  of  over  6,000  feet,  while  some  peaks  in  Georgia  exceed  4,000  feet  in  height. 
Although  the  chain  of  the  Blue  Bidge  is  far  from  regular,  either  in  direction  or  in  elevation,  contrasting  strongly 
in  these  respects  with  the  Smoky  mountains,  a  second  range  lying  west  of  it,  yet  the  general  structure  of  these 
mountains  is  the  same  as  in  the  middle  states ;  they  consist  of  a  series  of  ridges,  and  not,  like  the  mountains  of 
Maine,  of  a  series  of  isolated  cones. 

The  streams  in  this  division  are,  of  course,  small  and  very  rapid.  Their  fall  is  very  great,  and  is  interrupted  in 
many  cases  by  cascades  and  precipitous  falls,  sometimes  of  several  hundred  feet,  nearly  vertical.  The  bed  is  almost 
always  rock,  sometimes  overlaid  with  a  stratum  of  gravel,  and  the  valleys  narrow,  in  some  places  with  very  steep 
and  even  vertical  banks — hundreds  of  feet  high  in  a  few  very  rare  cases.  These  streams  are  subject  to  considerable 
fluctuations  in  volume,  and  the  water-power,  although  great,  is  not  very  available. 

There  are  no  lakes  in  any  part  of  the  region  under  consideration  except  a  few  near  the  coast,  a  position  which 
renders  them  of  no  value  as  regards  water-power. 

4. — Geology,  soils,  and  forests. 

As  has  been  already  stated,  the  entire  eastern  division  of  this  district  belongs  to  the  Tertiary  and  Quaternary 
formations.  Its  soil  is  for  the  most  part  a  sandy  loam.  Clay  and  sand,  in  fact,  constitute  the  soil  of  almost  the 
whole  district;  in  the  eastern  part  the  sand  predominates,  while  in  the  middle  and  western  parts  the  clay 
predominates.  There  are  also  in  the  eastern  part  beds  of  gravel,  marl,  and  peat,  and  there  is  generally  a  clay 
subsoil  not  far  below  the  surface.  In  some  places,  too,  there  are  beds  of  quite  pure  sand  (the  sand-hills),  which 
give  rise  to  several  streams  noticeable  for  their  water-power,  and  there  seems  to  be  a>  belt  of  these  sand-hills  just 
below  the  fall-line,  having  a  width  of  30  to  40  miles  in  places. 

In  the  middle  and  western  parts  of  the  region,  besides  the  clay  soil  just  referred  to,  and  which  is  the 
predominant  soil,  there  are  also  beds  of  gravel  and  sand.  It  is  an  important  fact  that  the  soil  here  is  very  deep — 
much  deeper  than  in  the  middle  states — and  that  it  has  resulted  from  the  decay  of  the  rocks  in  situ.  The  clay  is 
generally  red,  less  frequently  yellow,  and,  being  mixed  to  a  considerable  extent  with  sand  and  gravel,  it  is  not 
impervious.   When  well  compacted,  however,  it  is  said  to  make  a  good  dam. 

Almost  all  of  the  middle  and  western  parts  of  this  region  are  metamorphic.  The  general  direction  of  the  strike 
of  the  strata  is  NE.  and  SW\,  about  parallel  to  the  mountains,  and  the  streams  cross  these  strata  generally  at 
large  angles,  and  thus  form  shoals,  which  afford  abundance  of  fine  water-power.  The  prevailing  rocks  are  granite 
and  gneiss,  with  their  varieties.  In  upper  South  Carolina  nearly  all  the  water-powers  are  caused  by  the  streams 
crossing  the  ledges  of  gneiss,  and  the  same  is  true  for  the  other  states,  though,  perhaps,  not  to  so  great  a  degree. 
It  is  important  to  notice  that  the  rocks  are  generally  impervious. 

On  account  of  the  important  influence  exercised  by  forests  on  water-power,  it  is  an  important  fact  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  region  we  are  considering  is  well  wooded.  The  eastern  part  abounds  in  extensive  forests  of 
long-leaf  pine,  with  large  quantities  of  cypress  and  palmetto  along  the  river-bottoms,  but  in  the  middle  portion 
there  is,  unfortunately,  no  effort  made  to  preserve  the  forests,  and  they  are  said  to  be  disappearing  rapidly.  In  the 
western  part  they  are  abundant,  the  mountains  being  heavily  wooded.  Some  of  the  peaks,  however,  called  balds, 
are,  it  is  true,  entirely  destitute  of  trees  on  their  summits,  but  in  general  the  mountains  are  covered  with  heavy 
forests.  It  is  important  to  notice,  also,  that  the  mountains,  even  the  highest  ranges  and  peaks,  are  covered  with 
soil  to  a  considerable  depth. 

As  regards  variety  of  woods,  it  is  sufficient  to  mention  the  fact  that  the  state  of  Georgia  alone  produces  230 
different  kinds  of  wood.* 

*  Dr.  Little,  in  Eclectic  Geography,  Georgia  edition. 


669 


10 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


According  to  the  census  of  1870  the  number  of  square  miles  of  land  not  in  farms,  added  to  that  of  woodland  in 
farms,  is  as  follows  for  the  different  states : 


State. 


Land  area  of 
state. 


Area  above 
described. 


Per  cent. 


Virginia  

Xorth  Carolina . 
South  Carolina. . 

Georgia  

Maine  

"New  Hampshire 

Vermont  

Massachusetts. . 
Rhode  Island . . . 

Connecticut  

New  York  

New  Jersey  

Pennsylvania. . . 
Maryland  


4U,  125 

24,  733 

61 

48,  580 

36,379 

75 

30, 170 

21, 324 

71 

58,  980 

42,  230 

7? 

29,  895 

24, 249 

81 

9,005 

5,  007 

."Hi 

9, 135 

4,226 

46 

8,040 

4,  878 

61 

1.  085 

565 

52 

4,845 

2, 053 

42 

47,  620 

21,  822 

4& 

7, 455 

3,906 

52 

44,985 

25, 839 

57- 

9,860 

5,053 

51 

How  much  of  the  areas  in  the  second  column  are  woodlands  I  cannot  say.  It  seems  probable,  however,  that 
the  southern  states  are  better  wooded  than  the  Few  England  and  middle  states,  except  Maine. 

5. — Climate. 

The  climate  exercises  such  an  important  influence  on  the  water-power  of  a  district  that  it  seems  necessary  to 
consider  it  in  some  detail.  The  following  elements,  which  go  to  determine  the  climate  of  a  place,  will  be  considered  i 
a.  Length  of  coast  and  character  of  ocean-currents;  b.  prevailing  winds. at  different  seasons;  c.  temperature  at 
different  seasons ;  d.  precipitation,  amount  in  different  seasons  and  distribution  over  the  area  considered :  e. 
evaporation  and  moisture. 

a.  Coast-line  and  ocean-currents. — The  fact  has  been  already  referred  to  that  the  general  direction  of 
the  coast-line  is  NE.  and  SW.,  and  that  the  winds  from  X E.  round  to  SW.  are  maritime.  The  total  length  of  coast- 
line, not  including  indentations,  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  580  miles.  Along  this  coast,  and  a  short  distance  from 
it,  sweeps  the  Gulf  Stream,  keeping  its  course  across  the  Atlantic  from  cape  Hatteras,  and  leaving  the  upper  part 
of  North  Carolina  and  the  states  north  exposed  in  a  greater  degree  to  the  cold  current  from  the  north,  which  flows 
along  the  New  England  coast.  Hence,  the  winds  from  NPj.  are  cool,  while  those  from  SE.  are  warm  and  moist. 
The  effect  of  all  these  circumstances  on  water-power  will  be  referred  to  again. 

b.  Prevailing  winds  at  different  seasons. — The  winds  in  this  district  are  variable.  They  blow  from  all 
quarters,  the  prevailing  wind  being  different  in  different  parts  of  the  region,  and  at  different  seasons.  On  the  whole, 
however,  the  prevailing  winds  are  from  the  west,  or  some  point  between  SW.  and  NW.  But  it  is  a  very  striking- 
fact  that  the  resultant  wind,  or  the  wind  found  by  working  out  a  traverse  from  observations  of  the  frequency  of  the 
various  winds  throughout  the  year,*  is  almost  invariably,  in  all  parts  of  the  region,  from  a  point  between  SW.  and 
NW.,  a  fact  which  indicates  that  the  general  movement  of  the  atmosphere  is  toward  the  east.  On  the  immediate 
seaboard  the  winds  from  S.  and  SE.  are  frequent,  and  in  the  middle  section  northerly  winds  are,  at  least  in  North 
Carolina,  very  frequent,  coming  next  in  order  to  those  from  the  west.  As  regards  the  distribution  of  the  winds 
through  the  seasons,  the  winds  from  S.,  SE.,  and  SW.  are  most  prominent  during  the  spring  and  summer,  while 
in  autumn  and  winter  the  winds  from  N.,  NE.,  and  NW.  are  most  frequent.  Winds  from  the  east  are  the  least 
frequent  of  all. 

As  regards  water-power,  the  most  salient  points  to  be  noticed  are  that  there  is  no  distinct  periodicity  in  the  winds, 
and  that  the  general  movement  of  the  atmosphere  in  summer  and  spring  is  from  a  point  south  of  west,  and  in  autumn 
and  winter  from  a  point  north  of  west. 

c.  Temperature  at  different  seasons. — The  mean  temperatures  for  the  year  and  for  the  seasons,  as  well 
as  the  extremes  and  the  range,  vary  considerably  in  the  three  divisions  of  the  region  we  are  considering.  In  fact, 
the  isothermal  lines,  instead  of  following  the  parallels  of  latitude  (their  normal  course),  are  deflected  toward  the 
south  by  the  mountains  which  bound  the  district  on  the  west,  and  in  the  western  division  they  run  almost  parallel 
to  the  coast,  while  in  the  middle  and  eastern  divisions  they  run  at  an  angle  of  some  45°  with  it.  The  following 
tables,  consisting  of  observations  selected  from  among  those  given  in  the  Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge, 
vol.  21,  and  in  Professor  Kerr's  report  on  the  geology  of  North  Carolina,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  temperature  in 
different  parts  of  the  region,  and  at  different  seasons.  The  means  for  the  different  sections  have  been  obtained  by 
examining  the  temperature  charts  in  the  publications  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

"Coffin:  The  Winds  of  the  Globe.—  Smithsonian  Contrib.,  vol.  20. 

(!70 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 
Observations  of  temperature  at  (liferent  seasons. 


11 


Division. 


Eastern 


Station. 


Middle 


Western  . 


Eastern 


Norfolk,  Va  

Murfreesboro',  N.  C  . . 

Weldon,  N.  C  

Poplar  Branch,  K.  C .  - 
Scotland  Neck.N.C. 

Goldsboro',  N.  C  

Wilmington,  N.C  .... 

Aiken,  S.  C  

Camden,  S.  C  

Charleston,  S.  C  

Fort  Moultrie,  S.C ... 

Perry,  Ga  

Savannah,  Ga  

Lynchburg,  Va  

Gaston,  N.C  

Oxford,  N.  C  

Greensboro',  IT.  C  

Chapel  Hill,  N.  C  

Lenoir,  N.  C  

Statesville,N.C  

Raleigb,  X.  C  

Charlotte,  N.  C  

Albemarle,  If.  C  

Abbeville,  S.  C  

Columbia,  S.  C  

Athens,  Ga  

Atlanta,  Ga  

Penfield,  Ga  

Augusta  Arsenal,  Ga . 

Sparta,  Ga  

Boone,  N.  C  

Bakersville,  N.  C  

Asheville,  N.  C  

Murphy,  N.  C  

Clarksville,  Ga  


Brunswick,  Me  

Concord,  N.  H  

Boston,  Mass  

Providence,  B.  I  

Hartford,  Conn  

,  New  Haven,  Conn  

;  Albauy,  N.  Y  

New  York,  N.  Y  

■  Newark,  N.  J  

Beading,  Pa  

Harrisburg,  Pa  

Philadelphia,  Pa  

Carlisle  BaiTacks,  Pa  . 

Foi-t  Delaware,  Del. . . 

Baltimore,  Md  

Washington,  D.  C  

Cincinnati,  Ohio  

j  Chicago,  111  

j  Peoria,  111  

j  Fort  Madison,  Iowa  . . 

Muscatine,  Iowa  

j  Huntsville,  Ala  

Mobile,  Ala  


North  Carolina  and  Virginia  | 

South  Carolina  | 

Georgia  J 

Total  S 


9 
■= 
3 

itude. 

it  ion. 

Mean  temperature  (degrees  Fahrenheit). 

C^l  . 
C-3 

-  2  > 

j  Latit 

a 

z 

Hi 

> 

s 

Spring. 

Summer. 

Autnmn. 

\y  inter. 

Year 

c-2  s 

o  / 

Fr  ? 
r.  mo. 

36  51 

76  17 

on 

57 

77 

61 

42 

59 

25  0 

36  26 

77  01 

/  0 

1Q 
OO 

76 

59 

43 

59 

4  0 

36  23 

77  45 

Of 

to 

56 

40 

58 

36  14 

i       7fl  nn 
in  uu 

57 

79 

62 

43 

60 

0  |) 

36  07 

77  32 

Ov 

no 

75 

57 

41 

57 

2  0 

35  21 

78  02 

1  02 

01 

80 

62 

45 

62 

1       4  0 

34  17 

77  58 

50 

62 

79 

63 

48 

63 

33  32 

8 1  33 

Ifil 

«>oo 

01 

77 

62 

46 

62 

34  15 

80  31 

'  °40 

CO 
OA 

79 

62 

45 

62 

32  47 

79  56 

°0 

OO 

80 

67 

51 

66 

44  8 

32  45 

t  y  01 

oi 

CO 

66 

81 

68 

52 

67 

32  11 

32  28 

83  43 

280 

0/ 

80 

65 

49 

65 

2  3 

32  05 

81  06 

67 

81 

67 

53 

67 

**6  1 

37  22 

79  12 

800 

55 

75 

58 

40 

57 

3  9 

36  28 

77  38 

152 

56 

76 

58 

40 

58 

36  22 

78  29 

4(0 

57 

78 

58 

40 

58 

-  ') 

36  05 

79  50 

843 

60 

78 

62 

41 

60 

3  0 

35  58 

78  54 

570 

59 

76 

61 

42 

60 

OQ  () 

35  57 

81  34 

1  185 

55 

74 

55 

38 

56 

3  0 

35  47 

80  53 

aid 

53 

74 

54 

36 

54 

7  0 

35  47 

78  41 

350 

58 

78 

60 

40 

59 

4  0 

35  16 

80  50 

725 

59 

77 

58 

40 

3  0 

35  18 

80  11 

650 

56 

77 

57 

40 

58 

4  0 

34  12 

82  17 

500 

63 

79 

63 

47 

63 

2  10 

34  02 

80  57 

315 

42 

78 

63 

45 

62 

4  11 

33  58 

83  25 

850 

61 

76 

61 

46 

61 

6  6 

33  45 

84  24 

i  n  in 

58 

75 

58 

42 

58 

5  2 

33  38 

fil  AO 

oa  V\t 

i  Z4 

60 

79 

61 

45 

61 

2  7 

33  28 

01  OO 

ODU 

64 

80 

64 

48 

64 

21  7 

33  15 

82  54 

iin 

62 

78 

63 

46 

62 

9  0 

36  14 

81  39 

3  250 

47 

68 

48 

32 

49 

2  0 

36  03 

82  06 

*>  nn 

~,  OOU 

51 

71 

52 

36 

53 

1  0 

35  86 

82  28 

o  om 

<ff  IOU 

53 

72 

54 

38 

54 

6  6 

35  06 

83  29 

1  614 

56 

72 

53 

39 

55 

2  6 

34  40 

83  31 

3  632 

72 

56 

44 

°  3 

43  54 

69  57 

74 

42 

65 

48 

23 

45 

51  J? 

43  12 

71  29 

?l7/4 
«>/4 

44 

68 

49 

23 

46 

22  2/ 

42  21 

71  03 

QO 

46 

69 

51 

28 

49 

38  IV 

41  50 

71  24 

1  11 
100 

45 

68 

51 

27 

48 

34  8 

41  46 

72  41 

OU 

48 

70 

52 

30 

50 

16  ft 

41  18 

7*>  17 
i  &  Oi 

40 

47 

70 

51 

28 

49 

42  39 

i6  44 

130 

47 

70 

50 

25 

48 

45  11 

40  45 

7Q  1Q 

A  O 
4Z 

48 

73 

55 

31 

52 

01    1  t 
CL  11 

40  44 

74  10 

31 
oO 

48 

70 

53 

31 

51 

OA  1 
a4  0 

40  20 

75  o5 

269 

50 

72 

53 

31 

52 

6  8 

40  16 

7fi  1Q 
(O  Do 

Q71 

o  i 0 

52 

76 

55 

38 

54 

OQ  Q 

39  56 

75  10 

36 

51 

74 

54 

33 

53 

39  10 

40  12 

77  1 1 

«nn 

50 

73 

56 

30 

51 

OO  1 
Cit  o 

39  25 

75  34 

10 

52 

*  75 

58 

34 

55 

18  10 

39  17 

76  37 

80 

52 

73 

55 

34 

54 

18  9 

38  54 

tl  02 

75 

56 

76 

56 

36 

56 

12  3 

39  06 

84  30 

540 

54 

75 

55 

34 

55 

36  8 

41  54 

87  38 

600 

44 

67 

48 

25 

46 

17  .5 

40  43 

89  30 

512 

51 

74 

53 

27 

51 

14  9 

40  37 

91  28 

600 

50 

75 

52 

25 

51 

21  10 

41  26 

91  05 

586 

47 

69 

49 

23 

47 

27  6 

34  45 

86  40 

600 

60 

76 

60 

42 

60 

13  0 

30  41 

88  02 

15 

67 

79 

66 

52 

66 

10  Q 

Beg. 

34.5 

0 

|  59 

79 

60 

46 

61 

200 

36.5 

32.5 
34.5 

0 

|  62 

79 

63 

48 

63 

300 

31.0 
33.0 

0 

|  67 

80 

64 

50 

65 

350 

31.0 
36.5 

1  

62 

79 

63 

48 

63 

671 


12 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Observations  of  temperature — Continued. 


Divi»ion. 


Middle 


■Western . 


Station. 


North  Carolina  and  Virginia  | 

South  Carolina  | 

Georgia  J 


Total . 


North  Carolina  and  Virginia  ^ 

South  Carolina  


Georgia . 
Total... 


New  England . . 

New  England . . 
Middle  States  . . 
Western  States  . 


Beg. 
37.0 
35.0 

35.0 
34.0 

34.5 
32.5 

37.0 
32.5 

37.0 
35.0 


Feet. 

200 
1,  200 

300 
1, 100 

350 
1,100 


1,  200 
6,  000 


35.0 
34.0 


37.0 
34.0 


42.5 
41.0 


44.0 
42.5 


41.0 
39.0 


41.5 
39.0 


91.5 
84.5 


1, 100 
4,000 


Mean  temperature  (degrees  Fahrenheit). 


Spring.    Summer.  Autumn.  Winter.  Year. 


57.  00 
61.  00 
60.  00 
60.  00 
52.00 


54.  00 
53.  00 

46.  00 
43. 00 
50. 00 
49.  00 


77.  00 
77.  00 
77.00 
77.  00 
70.  00 


59.00 
62.  00 
61.00 
61.  00 
52.  00 


44.  00 

45.  00 
44.  00 
44.  00 
36.  00 


59.  00 
61.00 
60.00 
60.00 
52.  00 


72.00  55.00  i  36.00  .54.00 
71.  00        54.  00  I      36.  00  ^       53.  00 


69.  00 
67.  00 


51.  00  j       28. 00 


49.00 


49.00        23.00  45.00 


73.00  I       54.00        32.00  I  52.00 


72.  00        51.  00        26.  00 


50.  00 


For  comparison,  the  results  are  tabulated  for  some  places  in  other  parts  of  the  United  States  at  the  eud  of 
the  table.  The  places  named  as  belonging  to  the  western  division  are  really  outside  of  it,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Blue  Ridge;  but  as  no  records  of  observations  for  places  on  this  side  of  the  ridge  could  be  found,  I  have  inserted  these 
values,  as  giving  an  idea  of  the  temperature  in  that  region,  which  may  be  considered  accurate  enough.  The  averages 
for  the  three  divisions,  at  the  end  of  the  table,  as  well  as  for  the  other  parts  of  the  country,  are  only  approximations, 
but  are  close  enough  to  give  a  general  idea  of  the  differences  between  the  region  we  are  considering  and  the  other 
parts  of  the  country. 

These  tables  show  that  middle  South  Carolina  is  somewhat  warmer  than  middle  Georgia,  and  much  warmer  than 
middle  North  Carolina.  The  isothermals  bend  inward,  or  around  South  Carolina,  receding  further  from  the  coast 
in  that  state  than  in  North  Carolina  or  Georgia. 

The  following  table  of  extreme  observed  temperatures  may  be  interesting : 


State. 


at 


Month. 


Place  of  observation. 


St 

s  s 


Month. 


Place  of  observation. 


North  Carolina 
South  Carolina 

Georgia  

Alabama  

Maine  

Massachusetts 
Virginia  


Beg. 
102 

101 

103 

104 

102 

100 

104 


July . . . 
July ... 
July . . . 
August 
July  . . . 
July  ... 
August 


Port  Johnston  

Charleston  

Augusta  arsenal  

Mount  Vernon  arsenal 

Brunswick  

Fort  Warren   

Alexandria  


Deg. 

3 


—  2 

—  9 

—  32 

—  30 

2 


February   

Fort  Johnston. 

February  

Fort  Moultrie. 

February  

Augusta  arsenal. 

January  

Huntaville. 

January  

Brunswick. 

January  

Williamstown. 

January   

Fort  Monroe. 

These  figures,  as  well  as  all  the  others  pertaining  to  temperature  and  rainfall,  have  been  taken  principally  from 
the  Smithsonian  Contributions.  Lorin  Blodgett,  in  his  Climatology  of  the  United  States,  p.  150,  gives  figures  somewhat 
different.  Thus,  he  states"  that  in  the  winter  of  1834  and  1835,  which  was  a  winter  of  extreme  cold  in  the  south, 
the  temperature  at  several  places  was  as  follows:  On  January  4,  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  —16°;  in  February, 
at  Richmond,  —6°;  Norfolk,  +4°;  Fayetteville,, North  Carolina,  —1°;  Greenville,  South  Carolina,  —11°;  Athens, 


Georgia,  - 

672 


-10£°;  Clarksville,  Georgia,  —15°;  Milledgeville,  Georgia,  —9°;  Augusta,  Georgia,  —2°. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


13 


The  following  table  gives  the  average  temperature  of  the  warmest  day  and  the  coldest  day  of  the  year,  calculated, 
by  Bessel's  formula,  from  the  recorded  observations : 


Pla«e. 


Latitude. 

Longitude. 

Elevation. 

Temperature 
of  warmest 
day. 

Temperature 
of  coldest 
day. 

o 
bo 

a 

a 

*-<  A  . 
O.Q  <£ 

O 

J  2  « 
ill 

O  1 

46  30 

o  / 
84  28 

Feet. 
600 

Deg. 
65.2 

D-g. 
14.4 

Deg. 

50.8 

Trs.  mo. 
32  1 

43  54 

69  57 

74 

67.9 

19.5 

48.4 

51  3 

41  39 

70  56 

90 

70.2 

27.1 

43.1 

58  1 

41  18 

72  57 

45 

72.4 

25.7 

46.7 

86  0 

39  16 

76  35 

36 

77.0 

32.0 

45.  0 

36  0 

39  06 

84  30 

540 

77.9 

32.3 

45.6 

36  8 

38  37 

90  12 

481 

78.5 

30.3 

48.2 

41  0 

35  58 

78  54 

570 

78.9 

40.9 

38.0 

20  0 

32  45 

79  51 

25 

82.2 

50.1 

32.1 

32  11 

30  21 

87  18 

20 

82.6 

52.9 

29.7 

20  2 

Fort  Brady,  Mich  

Brunswick,  Me  

New  Bedford,  Mass  

New  Haven,  Conn  

Baltimore,  Md  

Cincinnati,  Ohio  

St.  Louis,  Mo  f. 

Chapel  Hill,  N.  C   

Fort  Moultrie,  S.  C  

Fort  Barrancas,  Pensacola,  Fla  


d.  Bainfall. — The  best  idea  of  the  rainfall  in  this  region,  as  well  as  over  the  whole  country,  and  of  its 
distribution  through  the  four  seasons,  can  be  obtained  by  consulting  the  charts  originally  published  in  No.  353  of  the 
Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge,  where  the  whole  subject  is  exhaustively  discussed.  According  to  the  plan 
there  adopted,  of  dividing  the  United  States  into  a  number  of  districts  characterized  by  a  general  uniformity  in  the 
distribution  of  the  rainfall,  we  have  to  devote  our  attention  here  to  the  district  there  referred  to  under  type  viii. 
Its  characteristics  are  given  as  follows:  "  The  principal  maximum  late  in  July,  or  early  in  August,  with  two  small 
adjacent  minima,  about  the  middle  of  April  and  late  in  October.  The  subordinate  maxima  occur  in  March  and 
December.  Eange  very  large."  The  observations  from  which  this  type  curve  is  constructed  are  from  five  stations, 
all  on  the  coast.  The  curve  shows  that  the  monthly  rainfall  fluctuates  between  0.52  of  the  mean  monthly  rainfall 
(in  April)  and  1.92  of  that  mean  (in  August).  Hence  the  average  fluctuation  is  140  per  cent,  of  the  mean  monthly 
rainfall,  or,  in  other  words,  in  the  month  of  maximum  rainfall  the  fall  is  3.7  times  as  much  as  it  is  in  the  month  of 
minimum  rainfall.  For  convenience  of  reference  the  ratios  of  fluctuation  in  the  other  characteristic  districts  are 
copied  here : 

Per  cent,  of  mean 

monthly  rainfall.  Kange. 

I.  Atlantic  coast,  Portland  to  Washington   0. 84  to  1. 22  38 

II.  Hudson  river  valley   0.69  to  1.29  60 

III.  Upper  Mississippi  river   0. 51  to  1. 56  105 

IV.  Ohio  river  valley   0. 74  to  1.  40  66 

V.  Indian  territory  and  western  Arkansas   0. 61  to  1. 51  90 

VI.  Lower  Mississippi  and  Red  rivers   0. 75  to  1. 19  44 

VII.  Mississippi  delta  and  Gulf  coast     0. 68  to  1.  37  69 

VIII.  Atlantic  coast,  Virginia  to  Florida   0.52  to  1.  92  140 

IX.  Western  coast,  San  Framcisco  to  Puget  sound   0. 13  to  2. 45  232 

As  already  stated,  the  ratios  for  type  VIII  were  deduced  from  five  stations,  all  on  the  immediate  seaboard. 
The  points  regarding  which  the  distribution  of  the  rainfall  farther  inland  differs  from  that  on  the  coast  will  be 
noticed  shortly.  This  ratio  varies,  however,  within  the  district  considered,  and  to  a  considerable  degree  in  different 
latitudes.    The  following  table,  from  which  the  ratio  for  this  region  was  derived,  will  prove  of  interest : 


Month. 


January  

February  

March  , 

April  

May  

June  

July  

August  

September  

October  

November  

December  

1012  W  P— VOL  16  43 


Fort  Monroe, 
Va.,  19  years. 

Charleston,  S. 
C,  42  years. 

Fort  Moultrie, 
S.  C,  17  years. 

Savannah,  6a., 
23  years. 

Fort  Brooke, 
Fla.,  17  years. 

Mean. 

0.86 

0.65 

0. 68 

0.72 

0.51 

0.63 

0. 70 

0.  73 

0.66 

0.63 

0.66 

0.  68 

0.85 

0.90 

1. 10 

0.92 

0. 72 

0. 90 

0.  76 

0.48 

0  46 

0.  50 

0.38 

0.52 

0.99 

0.95 

1.01 

1.22 

0.68 

0.  97 

1. 10 

1. 16 

1. 14 

1. 13 

1.53 

1.  21 

1. 36 

1.63 

1.69 

1.  91 

2.60 

J.  84 

1.44 

1.93 

2.02 

2.07 

2. 14 

1.  92 

1. 19 

L42 

1.29 

1.15 

1.24 

1.  26 

0.74 

0.  79 

0.56 

0.  56 

0. 49 

0.63 

0.84 

0.55 

0.56 

0.44 

0.43 

0.56 

1.17 

0.81 

0.83 

0.74 

0.61 

0.88 

673 


14 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


For  more  complete  tables  the  original  article  may  be  referred  to.  The  fluctuation  evidently  increases  as  we  go 
south,  and  it  may  be  assumed  with  sufficient  accuracy,  as  follows : 

Per  cent. 

Latitude,  34°-37°  ;  fluctuation   75 

Latitude,  32°-34°  ;  fluctuation   145 

Latitude,  30°-32° ;  fluctuation   200 

As  regards  the  fluctuation  of  the  annual  rainfall  the  region  considered  does  not  differ  much  from  New  England 
and  the  middle  states,  as  the  following  table  will  show : 

Table  of  fluctuation  of  annual  rainfall  (fluctuation  in  per  cent,  of  mean  annual  fall). 


Place. 


Limits  of 
fluctuation 


Per  cent. 


Brunswick,  Me  

Hanover,  N.  H  

Burlington,  Tt  

Boston,  Mass  

New  Bedford,  Mass  

Providence,  R.  I  

Now  Haven,  Conn  

Flatbush,  N.  T  

Philadelphia;iPa  

Washington,  D.  C  

Port  Monroe,  Va  «  

Charleston,  S.  C  

Port  Moultrie,  S.  C  

Saint  John's,  S.  C  

Savannah,  Ga  

Fort  Brooke,  Fla  

Marietta,  Ohio  

Saint  Lonis,  Mo  

r,  Atlantic  coast,  Maine  to  Virginia  

TP.  New  York  and  adjacent  parts  of  Canada,  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  and  Vermont 

IEE.  Parts  of  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin*  

IV.  Ohio  valley,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  and  part  of  Missouri  

V.  Indian  Territory  and  Arkansas*  

VL  Louisiana,  Alabama,  and  West  Florida*  

VII.  Atlantic  coast,  Virginia  to  Florida*  


150-59 

139-  79 
145-74 

150-  67 

140-  74 
130-74 
126-76 

135-  74 
143-67 

143-  62 
158-57 

151-  54 

144-  79 
133-58 

145-  54 
168-67 

145-  76 
163-64 
123-73 
122-76 

125-  75 

126-  71 

146-  62 
140-72 

136-  78 


91 
60 
71 

83 
6G 
56 
50 
61 
76 
81 

101 
97 
65 
75 
91 

101 


50 
46 
50 
55 
84 
68 
58 


•Only  to  he  considered  rough  approximations,  on  account  of  small  number  of  stations. 


The  most  important  fact  connected  with  the  rainfall  is,  however,  that  its  distribution  in  the  mountains  and  in 
the  water-power  district  is  by  far  not  so  variable  as  on  the  coast,  a  fact  of  the  greatest  significance  as  regards  the 
flow  of  the  streams  and  the  amount  of  power  available.  I  shall,  further  on,  discuss  the  influence  on  the  flow  of  the 
streams  which  is  exerted  by  the  various  facts  relating  to  this  region,  so  that  at  present  it  is  only  necessary  to  mention 
the  fact  that,  in  the  case  of  many  of  the  streams  in  this  part  of  the  country,  the  rainfall  on  their  water-shed  above 
the  fall-line  is  almost  the  same  in  winter  as  in  summer,  and  even  in  some  cases  larger  in  winter.  A  glance  at  the 
Smithsonian  maps  will  convince  one  of  this  fact,  and  also  of  the  fact  that  the  distribution  is  irregular,  so  that 
there  is  no  gradual  change  in  the  law  governing  it,  as  we  proceed  from  south  to  north. 

As  regards  the  absolute  amount  of  rain  the  charts  give  the  best  idea,  and  to  them  I  would  refer.  The  average 
amount  varies  according  to  the  latitude  and  the  distance  from  the  coast.  The  following  brief  tables  will  show  to  what 
extent : 

Table  of  average  rainfall  (inches). 


North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 

South  Carolina. 

Georgia. 

East. 

Middle. 

West. 

Ea<st. 

Middle. 

West. 

East. 

Middle 

Wost. 

50 

40-44 

44-50 

44 

44-50 

56 

44 

41 

46 

14 

10-14 

14-16 

14 

10-14 

14-16 

14 

10-14 

14-16 

— — ■  . — .  .  . — . — _  1 

10-12 

10-16 

14 

10-12 

14-16 

16 

10 

12-16 

Id 

674 


\ 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  15 


Rainfall  table. 


Place 

ititude. 

mgitude. 

evation. 

bio 
•g 

a 
s 

atumn. 

inter. 

Tear. 

<4H  • 

o 

CD  CO 

p  <0 
3  >■ 

served. 

i-l 

h5 

02 

02 

< 

ft 

o  / 

o  / 

Feet. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

Trs. 

mo. 

36  28 

77  38 

152 

12. 12 

11.  88 

O  CiR 

u.  uo 

43.  40 

4 

8 

35  58 

78  54 

570 

10.  50 

10.  29 

10.  68 

11.24 

42. 71 

3 

11 

32  45 

79  51 

25 

9.  75 

18.  37 

9.15 

8.24 

45.  51 

17 

1 

32  47 

79  56 

20 

8.  85 

17. 49 

10.20 

8.28 

44.  82 

(5 

5 

34  15 

80  31 

240 

12. 10 

18. 17 

11    1  o 

50. 49 

8 

6 

33  18 

79  56 

50 

8.84 

17.38 

8.  92 

8.  33 

43. 47 

13 

2 

33  29 

79  17 

20 

8.28 

14.88 

10. 08 

9.96 

43. 20 

9 

4 

82  ^8 

t\(\Cl 

ow 

13.53 

12. 11 

6.  65 

17.  06 

49. 35 

2 

10 

33  32 

81  34 

OOO 

10. 78 

10.  51 

8.  08 

11.  oo 

47.  25 

12 

11 

33  17 

83  09 

550 

11.42 

14. 61 

10.22 

17.  63 

53. 88 

9 

0 

32  05 

81  05 

42 

10.39 

20.81 

8.  61 

8.86 

48.67 

30 

10 

33  57 

83  30 

860 

10.  82 

13. 17 

7. 11 

12.  09 

43. 19 

7 

5 

33  28 

81  53 

350 

13. 19 

11.  92 

8.78 

12.  89 

46.  78 

11 

0 

43  54 

69  57 

74 

11.  70 

11.71 

11.42 

9.84 

44.67 

32 

1 

9  to  12 

10 

10  to  14 

10  to  12 

44  to  50 

6  to  9 

10  to  12 

10  to  12 

8  to  10 

■  38  to  40 

9  to  12 

10  to  14 

16  to  14 

8  to  10 

38  to  44 

43  42 

72  17 

530 

9.  91 

11.9 

10.58 

9.  08 

^40.  66 

19 

0 

12 

10  to  14 

10  to  14 

10  to  12 

44*  to  50 

6  to  9 

6  to  10 

8  to  10 

6  to  8 

28  to  32 

39  06 

84  28 

480 

11. 17 

12.67 

9.29 

9.83 

42.96 

41 

11 

42  20 

83  00 

580 

8.51 

10.10 

8.44 

5. 79 

32.  84 

30 

5 

38  37 

90  16 

481 

U.  71 

13. 01 

8.  58 

7.  39 

40.69 

40 

0 

The  records  are  quite  incomplete  regarding  this  part  of  the  country,  most  of  the  stations  at  which  long  records 
have  been  kept  being  on  the  immediate  seaboard.  On  account  of  the  lowness  of  the  laud  near  the  coast  and  its 
swampy  character  the  rainfall  will  increase  for  a  certain  distance  inland,  and  will  probably  reach  its  maximum 
between  the  coast  and  the  fall-line,  diminishing  from  that  line  inland,  but  reaching  a  second  maximum  in  the 
mountains.  Professor  Kerr,  in  his  report  of  the  Geological  Survey,  gives  the  rainfall  in  the  different  sections  of 
North  Carolina  as  follows : 

Inches. 


Eastern  division  ,   58. 1 

Middle  division   45.6 

Western  division    58.2 

State   53.1 


The  observations  from  which  these  figures  were  deduced  were  made  principally  between  the  years  1871  and  1875, 
and  from  records  furnished  by  Professor  Baird  it  is  evident  that  those  years  were  years  of  large  rainfall  all  along 
the  southern  Atlantic  coast,  the  rainfall  being,  on  the  whole,  considerably  greater  than  the  average  at  stations  where 
long  records  exist.  Professor  Kerr  thinks  45  inches  too  low  a  figure  for  North  Carolina,  and  considers  53  inches 
more  nearly  correct.  It  seems  to  me,  however,  that  the  average  rainfall  for  North  Carolina  should  not  be  so  much 
greater  than  for  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  or  Savannah,  Georgia.  The  preceding  table,  taken  from  the  Smithsonian 
Contributions,  shows  the  results  of  observation  at  these  places,  as  well  as  at  others.  It  will  be  seen  that  there  are 
very  few  places  where  the  annual  rainfall  amounts  to  53  inches,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  45  to  50  inches  is  not  too  low 
a  figure  for  North  Carolina,  according  to  all  the  information  that  I  can  at  present  gather.  I  have  estimated  from 
the  Smithsonian  charts  the  amount  of  rainfall  for  each  river-basin,  and  the  results  are  given  in  considering  the  rivers 
separately.  I  have  endeavored  to  make  the  estimate  too  low  rather  than  too  high,  so  as  not  to  overestimate  the 
powers. 

Snow. — Snow  falls  in  all  parts  of  the  region  under  consideration.  The  average  for  three  years  at  five  stations 
in  North  Carolina  gave  a  mean  depth  of  6  inches  for  the  state.*  In  Georgia  snow  is  rare,  and  seldom  impedes 
communication,  although  it  has  been  known  to  fall  at  several  places  to  a  depth  of  3  feet.t 

Fogs  are  very  rare  in  all  the  district  considered. 

As  regards  cloudiness,  Loomis  gives  the  average  cloudiness  for  the  New  England  states  as  0.53,  and  for  the 
southern  states  as  0.47.| 

Freshets. — All  the  rivers  in  this  region  are  subject  to  quite  heavy  freshets,  not  differing  much,  however,  so  far 
as  I  can  learn,  from  those  in  the  northern  states,  except  as  regards  cause  and  times  of  occurrence.  As  there  is  little 
snow,  there  are  no  freshets  to  correspond  with  the  ice-freshets  at  the  north  on  the  breaking  up  of  the  rivers,  and 

*  Professor  Kerr's  report.  t  Blodgett's  Climatology,  p.  147.  X Meteorology,  p.  103. 


16 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


thus  one  of  the  destructive  elements  of  the  freshets  is  removed.  The  freshets  are  irregular  in  the  times  of  their 
occurrence,  their  duration,  and  the  heights  to  which  the  water  rises,  so  that  any  further  remarks  concerning  them 
will  be  postponed  until  each  river  is  considered  by  itself. 

e.  Evaporation  and  moisture. — The  evaporative  power  of  theatmosphere  being  determined  by  its  temperature 
and  its  hygrometric  state,  a  few  remarks  regarding  the  latter  seem  to  be  called  for,  the  temperature  having  already 
been  considered.  I  have,  however,  been  unable  to  find  much  information  regarding  the  moisture  in  the  air  at 
different  places,  but  have  noticed  the  fact  that  the  relative  humidity  of  the  air  seems  to  diminish  as  we  proceed  from 
south  to  north  in  the  district  under  consideration.  Professor  Kerr,  in  his  report  on  the  geology  of  North  Carolina, 
gives  the  results  of  hygrometric  observations  at  Wilmington  and  Charlotte,  and  Blodgett,  in  his  Climatology,  has 
given  some  figures  for  New  Orleans  and  Saint  Louis.  It  appears  from  them  that  the  average  relative  humidity  for 
the  year  is  as  follows  at  these  places:  Wilmington,  57  per  cent.;  Charlotte,  65  per  cent.;  New  Orleans,  86  per  cent.; 
Saint  Louis,  67  per  cent. ;  London,  80  per  cent. 

The  daily  records  of  the  observations  in  North  Carolina  show  that  at  no  time  in  the  months  of  June,  August, 
and  October  (the  only  ones  for  which  the  results  are  given)  does  the  relative  humidity  exceed  97  per  cent,  Only 
once  did  it  reach  97  per  cent.,  once  95  per  cent.,  and  twice  90  per  cent.  Observations  in  Atlanta,  for  eleven  months 
in  1876,  give  the  average  relative  humidity  at  about  60  per  cent.,  and  show  that  in  nine  months  of  the  year  the 
maximum  was  100  per  cent.,  and  in  no  month  less  than  93  per  cent.  The  observations  are  not  extended  enough  to 
serve  as  a  basis  for  any  general  conclusions,  but  it  seems  evident  that  the  moist  winds  from  the  Gulf  deposit 
a  large  proportion  of  their  moisture  in  the  first  few  miles  of  their  course,  and  after  that  deposit  less  and  less, 
and  become  drier  and  drier,  thereby  increasing  the  evaporation  as  we  proceed  north.  Other  things  being  equal, 
and  especially  the  distribution  of  the  rainfall  throughout  the  year,  the  southern  streams  would  discharge  a  smaller 
proportion,  of  the  rainfall  in  their  drainage-basins  than  the  northern  ones  in  the  district  considered.  But  the 
distribution  of  the  rainfall  is  not  the  same,  so  that  this  conclusion  cannot  be  drawn  at  once. 

Before  proceeding  to  discuss  the  effects  exerted  by  the  facts  which  have  been  stated  on  the  water-power  of  the 
district  under  discussion  it  is  desirable  to  show  what  the  essential  elements  of  a  water-power  are,  and  how  they 
may  be  varied  by  the  various  climatic  and  other  influences. 

FLOW  OF  STREAMS. 

The  essential  elements  of  a  water-power  are  the  fall  and  the  quantity  of  water;  and  the  amount  of  fall  being 
a  fixed  quantity,  capable  of  being  measured  Once  for  all,  and  therefore  not  needing  discussion,  it  is  necessary  to 
determine  the  amount  of  water  that  a  given  stream  will  afford  at  a  certain  point  and  the  variation  in  the  flow  from 
month  to  month. 

The  average  amount  of  water  carried  past  a  certain  point  in  a  year  depends  upon  the  amount  and  distribution 
of  rainfall,  the  area  of  the  drainage-basin,  and  the  character  of  that  basin.  All  the  water  carried  by  is  derived 
from  the  rainfall,  but  of  the  total  rainfall  a  certain  amount  is  lost  in  the  following  ways:  by  percolation  and 
discharge  through  subterranean  channels;  by  evaporation  from  the  soil  and  the  surfaces  of  streams ;  by  absorption 
through  the  roots  of  trees,  shrubs,  and  grasses,  and  subsequent  evaporation.  The  amount  discharged  by  the 
streams  will  be  greater  as  these  sources  of  loss  are  diminished,  and  the  problem  before  us  is  to  determine  for  each 
particular  case  what  proportion  of  the  rainfall  is  so  discharged;  and  we  must,  moreover,  endeavor  to  find  out 
the  laws  regulating  the  distribution  of  the  flow  through  the  year,  and  from  year  to  year.  In  the  case  of  most 
streams  the  flow  varies  greatly  from  day  to  day,  and  from  month  to  month,  being  occasionally  in  times  of  freshet  50, 
100,  and  even  several  hundred  times  its  minimum  volume.  Thus  the  table  given  further  on  shows  that  the  Potomac 
river  at  Cumberland  has  been  known  to  discharge  a  quantity  716  times  as  great  as  its  minimum  discharge,  while 
the  maximum  discharge  of  the  Merrimac  is  only  44  times  its  minimum  discharge.  A  great  fluctuation  in  flow  is 
evidently  an  obstacle  to  the  extensive  use  of  water-power,  making  it  necessary  to  depend  only  on  the  flow  at  times 
when  the  stream  is  low,  or  to  use  auxiliary  steam-power,  or  to  store  the  freshet  water  in  reservoirs,  and  so  increase 
the  flow  in  dry  seasons.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  discuss,  to  some  extent,  the  total  amount  discharged  by  streams 
(or  the  proportion  of  the  rainfall  flowing  off),  and  the  manner  in  which  that  total  amount  is  distributed  through 
the  year.  As  regards  the  first  of  these  questions,  it  has  generally  been  customary  to  assume  a  certain  fixed 
proportion  of  the  annual  rainfall  as  flowing  from  the  surface  and  discharged  by  the  streams;  but  it  has  always  been 
recognized  that  the  proportion  to  be  thus  assumed  varies  greatly  according  to  numerous  circumstances,  such  as 
the  area  and  form  of  the  drainage-basin;  the  distribution  of  the  rainfall  through  the  year,  as  well  as  its  amount; 
the  extent  of  the  forests;  the  number  and  extent  of  lakes;  the  character  of  the  soil  and  rocks,  and  the  state  of 
cultivation;  and  all  of  these  factors  affect  not  only  the  total  discharge  of  a  stream,  but  also  its  distribution.  With 
a  given  water-shed,  in  any  particular  year,  a  certain  proportion  of  the  rainfall  will  be  discharged  and  distributed  in 
a  certain  way,  but  both  that  proportion  and  that  distribution  are  liable  to  change  if  any  one  of  the  above 
conditions  are  altered.  Thus  the  greater  the  area  of  the  water-shed  the  more  uniform  the  flow,  other  things  equal, 
because  streams  draining  small  areas  are  more  subject  to  the  effects  of  sudden  rains  than  those  draining  large  ones; 
and  while  in  the  former  case  there  mav  be  weeks  at  a  time  when  no  rain  falls  on  the  basin,  and  the  stream  draining 

C76 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER  SHED. 


17 


it  almost  dries  up,  in  the  latter  case  there  will  probably  be  frequent  rains  on  some  part  or  other  of  the  basin.  The 
table  given  further  on  illustrates  this  point  by  showing  that,  as  a  rule,  the  ratio  of  maximum  to  minimum  discharge 
is  greater  in  the  case  of  small  streams  than  in  that  of  large  ones.  And,  in  like  manner,  the  form  of  the  drainage- 
basin  exerts  a  certain  influence.  The  distribution  of  the  rainfall  is  a  very  important  point,  and  as  an  example  of 
the  great  variability  of  the  proportion  of  the  rainfall  discharged  from  the  same  water-shed  in  different  years  the  case 
of  the  drainage  area  of  the  Albany  water-works  may  be  cited,  where  from  an  area  of  2, COO  acres  in  1850,  between  May 
and  October,  inclusive,  41£  per  cent,  of  the  rainfall  was  carried  off  by  the  streams,  while  in  1851,  within  the  same 
period  (from  May  to  October),  82.6  per  cent,  was  discharged.*  Hence  it  is  that  the  year  of  minimum  rainfall  may  not 
be  the  year  in  which  the  streams  get  lowest,  or  the  one  in  which  the  season  of  absolute  minimum  flow  occurs.  An 
eminent  authority  has  remarked:  "This  (the  year  with  the  season  of  least  flow)  is  not  necessarily  the  year  of  least 
rainfall,  nor  even  the  year  of  greatest  apparent  drought,  but  is  the  result  of  such  a  distribution  of  the  rainfall  that 
the  excess  of  water  over  the  amount  needed  for  sustaining  vegetation  and  supplying  losses  by  evaporation  is  very 
small  for  several  successive  months."  t  The  proportion  of  the  rainfall  discharged  by  streams  is  therefore  a  very 
uncertain  and  variable  quantity,  varying  not  only  for  different  streams,  but  for  the  same  stream  in  different  years ;  and 
it  is  evident  that  the  attempt  to  deduce  the  distribution  of  the  flow  of  streams  by  taking  certain  proportions  based 
on  the  rainfall  is  still  more  uncertain.  Hence  it  is  that  some  eminent  engineers  have  given  up  the  use  of  any 
proportion  at  all  in  calculations  regarding  the  capacity  of  streams  to  furnish  water-supply,  and  have  adopted  for  this 
climate  a  certain  fixed  number  of  inches  of  rainfall  as  available.  Mr.  Oroes  has  remarked  in  another  place  |  that 
"the  few  records  that  exist  of  the  flow  from  known  drainage  areas  establish  the  fact  that  not  over  15  inches  per 
annum  can  be  depended  upon  on  the  Atlantic  slope,  and  many  engineers  who  have  devoted  a  good  deal  of  attention 
to  the  subject  are  very  decided  in  their  opinion  tha*t  not  more  than  11  inches  should  in  any  case  be  calculated  on". 
The  following  table  is  copied  from  the  same  source: 


Small  annual  yield  of  streams. 


*  Stream. 

Drainage 
area. 

Tear. 

Ruin. 

Discharge. 

Sq.  miles. 
9.4 

12.5 

19.0 

20.0 

339.0 

339.0 

10234.  0 

1835-'36 

1851 

1870-71 

1870-71 

1864 

1872 

1877 

Inches. 
35.  68 

36.75 

42.  96 

39.  36 

40. 80 

40.74 

Inches. 
16.67 

17.  53 

12.  62 

18.88 

14.  89 

19.00 

21.  71 

Croton,  S.Y  

Croton,  IT.  Y  

In  order  to  utilize  all  the  discharge  given  in  the  last  column  a  certain  amount  of  storage  room  will  be  required, 
owing  to  the  variation  of  the  flow  in  different  months. 


It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  devote  a  few  lines  here  to  a  closer  consideration  of  the  causes  affecting  the 
fluctuations  in  the  flow  of  streams.  Evaporation,  the  principal  source  of  loss,  acts  in  different  months  with  very 
different  degrees  of  intensity,  being  generally  greatest  in  the  summer  months  and  least  in  the  winter.  It  is 
sometimes  the  custom,  in  calculating  the  amount  of  water-supply  available  for  the  use  of  a  town,  to  assume  a  certain 
proportion  of  the  rainfall  of  each  month  as  collectible  or  as  discharged  through  the  streams,  that  proportion  varying 
from  20  or  30  per  cent,  in  summer  months  to  70  or  80  per  cent.,  or  even  over  100  per  cent.,  in  others.  Now,  if  we 
assume  that  the  rainfall  at  any  particular  time  reaches  the  streams  within  a  short  time  after  it  has  fallen,  say  within 
a  month  or  so,  then,  if  the  rainfall  is  uniformly  distributed -throughout  the  year,  the  flow  of  the  streams  will  decrease 
as  the  evaporation  increases,  aud  will  be  several  times  greater*  in  some  month  (the  month  of  maximum  flow) 
than  in  some  other  mouth  (the  month  of  minimum  flow).  If,  now,  the  rainfall  be  so  distributed  that  in  the  months 
when  the  evaporation  is  least  the  greatest  rainfall  occurs,  it  is  evident  that  the  proportion  of  the  rainfall  discharged 
will  be  greater  than  in  the  first  case,  while  the  variability  of  the  flow  will  also  be  greater.  In  this  case,  then,  a 
larger  amount  of  water  will  be  available,  but  the  storage  necessary  will  also  be  larger,  while  the  minimum  and 
low-season  flow  of  the  stream,  without  storage,  will  be  less  than  before. 

Again,  if  the  rainfall  be  so  distributed  that  the  greatest  rainfall  occurs  in  those  months  in  which  the  evaporation 
is  greatest,  the  proportion  of  the  rainfall  discharged  by  the  streams  will  be  less  than  in  the  first  case,  but  the  flow 
will  be  more  uniform.  In  this  case,  then,  a  smaller  amount  of  water  will  be  available,  but  the  necessary  storage  will 
be  less,  while  the  minimum  flow  of  the  stream,  without  storage,  will  be  greater  than  in  either  of  the  previous  cases. 
Hence  we  see  how  the  distribution  of  the  rainfall  and  the  amount  of  the  evaporation  affect  the  flow  of  the  streams, 


*HUGHE8,  Waterworks,  p.  332.  t  Engineering  News,  March  20,  1880,  p.  104. 

t  Newark  Aqued.nct  Board,  Report  on  Additional  Water  Supply,  by  J.  J.  R.  Croes  and  G.  W.  Howell,  1879. 


18 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


aud  by  considering  these,  as  well  as  the  other  elements  affecting  water-power,  we  may  he  able  to  judge  of  the  relative 
value  of  two  streams,  and  to  form  some  estimate  of  their  flow,  even  if  no  gaugings  are  at  hand,  although  such 
estimates  are  very  rough  aud  liable  to  be  greatly  in  error. 

Two  elements  of  a  good  water-power  are,  large  flow,  or  large  proportion  of  rainfall  available,  and  uniform 
flow.  The  flow  may  be  large,  but  if  it  is  very  variable  the  storage-room  necessary  to  utilize  it  all  may  be  too  large, 
while  a  small  flow,  if  uniform,  could  be  utilized  without  any  storage  at  all  (except  where  it  is  desired  to  concentrate 
the  power  into  less  than  twenty -four  hours).  But  the  remaining  factors  above  named  affect  very  materially  the 
flow  of  streams,  both  in  amount  and  in  constancy,  viz,  soil,  forests,  lakes.  The  effect  of  these  is  felt  in  so  many 
ways  that  it  would  not  be  the  place  here  to  discuss  them  extensively.  But,  as  showing  what  principles  have 
guided  me  in  making  my  estimates  of  the  flow  of  the  various  streams,  I  may  be  permitted  to  sum  up  here  briefly 
these  effects.  A  deep  and  porous  soil,  if  underlaid  by  an  impervious  stratum,  down  to  which  the  streams  have 
cut  their  beds,  has  the  effect  of  diminishing  the  evaporation  and  rendering  the  flow  of  the  streams  more  constant. 
In  some  cases,  however,  and  especially  when  the  streams  have  not  cut  down  to  an  impervious  bed  (that  sheds  the 
water  that  percolates  to  it),  a  deep  and  pervious  soil  is  accompanied  by  considerable  loss  by  flowage  in  subterranean 
courses,  so  that  the  flow  of  the  streams  may  be  diminished.  It  does  not  seem  as  though  this  were  the  case  in  the 
southern  states.  The  action  of  lakes  in  regulating  flow  is  evident,  but  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  estimate  it 
numerically.  They  exert  a  more  important  influence  in  this  respect  than  any  other  factor  entering  into  the 
question.  As  regards  forests,  I  am  constrained  to  speak  of  their  action  somewhat  at  length  because  of  the  fact 
that,  on  account  of  the  climatic  conditions  in  some  parts  of  the  district  under  consideration,  their  influence  may  be 
overestimated.  Although  authorities  are  not  agreed  as  to  whether  forests  increase  the  actual  amount  of  rainfall, 
the  weight  of  evidence  seems  to  be  tending  to  prove  that  they  do  not.  All  are  agreed,  however,  that  they  act  as 
great  regulators  of  the  flow  of  streams.  According  to  the  results  of  the  experiments  at  the  Bavarian  experiment 
stations  the  action  of  forests  is  as  follows  :* 

1.  They  decrease  the  temperature  of  the  ground,  but  in  winter  the  effect  is  inappreciable. 

2.  They  decrease  the  temperature  of  the  air  during  the  daytime,  but  in  winter  to  an  inappreciable  extent,  and 
increase  it  during  the  night  in  winter  much  more  than  in  summer. 

3.  They  have  no  influence  on  the  absolute  humidity  of  the  air,  but  they  increase  greatly  its  relative  humidity, 
and  to  a  large  extent  at  all  seasons,  but  greater  iu  summer  than  in  winter. 

4.  They  decrease  evaporation  from  a  free  water-surface,  and  to  an  almost  equal  extent  at  all  seasons,  and  also 
the  evaporation  from  moist  earth. 

5.  Trees  themselves  evaporate  so  much  that  the  total  evaporation  from  woods  is  greater  than  from  open  ground. 

6.  They  decrease  the  amount  of  rainfall  which  reaches  the  ground  by  intercepting  part  of  it  by  their  leaves 
and  branches. 

7.  They  exert  no  influence  on  the  distribution  of  rainfall  throughout  the  year.- 

8.  They  have  but  a  small  effect,  if  any,  in  increasing  the  rainfall,  but  that  effect  is  much  greater  in  summer  than 
in  winter,  and  increases  with  the  elevation  above  the  sea. 

9.  They  have  no  appreciable  effect  in  increasing  the  total  quantity  of  water  penetrating  the  ground,  but  in 
winter  they  'decrease  that  quantity,  while  in  summer  they  increase  it  very  considerably.  The  forests,  therefore, 
diminish  the  quantity  of  water  flowing  directly  from  the  surface  in  summer,  and  by  storing  it  up,  to  be  given  out 
gradually,  contribute  to  the  constancy  of  the  streams.    (See  page  20  for  further  remarks.) 

I  will  now  proceed  to  explain  the  general  method  I  have  followed  in  estimating  the  flow  of  the  streams  in  this 
district.  In  calculating  the  amount  of  water-power  available  I  have  considered  the  flow  of  streams  chiefly  with 
reference  to  four  quantities,  viz  : 

1.  The  absolute  minimum  flow. 

2.  The  minimum  low-season  flow. 

3.  The  maximum  flow  available  with  storage. 

4.  The  low-season  flow  in  ordinarily  dry  years,  but  not  the  driest. 

a.  The  absolute  minimum  flow  determines  the  maximum  power  which  the  stream  will  afford,  at  a  given  point, 
at  all  times;  but  as  this  minimum  flow  generally  occurs  during  a  period  of  not  over  a  few  days  at  intervals  of 
several  years,  it  is  not  of  so  much  importance  as  the  other  quantities,  and  if  only  this  flow  is  utilized  there  will  be 
a  large  amount  of  water  wasting,  even  iu  the  low  season,  for  years  in  succession.  The  amount  of  this  flow  is  best 
approximated  to,  probably,  by  assuming  a  certain  discharge  per  square  mile  of  water-shed,  varying  with  the  area 
of  the  water-shed  and  the  local  and  climatic  conditions.  In  estimating  this  flow  I  have  made  use  of  the  results 
given  in  the  table  on  page  20. 

b.  The  minimum  low-season  flow  is  the  smallest  average  amount  flowing  during  a  period  of  from  six  to  three 
weeks,  generally  in  summer,  when  the  stream  is  at  its  lowest.  In  most  years,  the  average  flow  during  the  season 
of  least  flow  exceeds  this  amount.   It  may  therefore  be  depended  upon  at  all  times,  except  for  intervals  of  a  day 

*  Ebekmayku  :  Die  physiMlischen  Einwirhingcn  des  Waldes  auf  Lnft  und  Bod-en,  und  seine  klimatologischc  nnd  hygienisvhe  Bedeutung. 
Berlin,  1873.  , 
G78 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


19 


or  two,  perhaps  several  days  at  a  time,  during  -which  the  flow  approaches  its  absolute  minimum,  and  may  be 
rendered  available  at  all  times  by  a  small  amount  of  storage.  In  ordinary  years  there  will  be  an  excess  almost  all 
the  time. 

This  minimum  summer  flow  can  probably  be  best  estimated  by  comparison  with  experimental  results,  some  of 
which  are  given  in  the  table  on  page  21.    But  in  most  cases  I  have  estimated  it  as  follows  : 

1.  Seven-tenths  of  the  mean  annual  rainfall  may,  in  general,  be  considered  the  minimum  rainfall. 

2.  Forty  per  cent,  of  this  may,  on  the  average,  for  tolerably  large  drainage  basins,  be  considered  to  be  discharged 
by  the  streams,  subject  to  variation,  however,  according  to  local  and  climatic  conditions ;  but  in  no  case  should  the 
amount  determined  in  this  way  as  the  total  amount  discharged  in  a  year  exceed  say  10  to  13  inches.  If  it  does, 
not  over  10  to  13  inches  should  be  assumed.  The  storage  necessary  to  render  this  flow  available  at  all  times  I  am 
unable  to  calculate  with  the  data  at  hand. 

3.  The  distribution  of  this  flow  through  the  year  may  be  estimated  from  the  results  of  the  table  on  page  21, 
bearing  in  mind,  however,  in  estimating  the  coefficient  which  expresses  the  proportion  of  the  mean  monthly  rainfall 
which  is  discharged  iu  the  driest  month,  the  various  remarks  concerning  the  district  considered,  on  pages  22 
to  24. 

e.  By  increasing  the  storage-room  a  larger  flow  may  be  rendered  available.  In  regard  to  the  amount  of 
increase  possible,  I  have  assumed  that  10  to  13  inches  is  all  that  can  be  depended  on  permanently.  Perhaps 
11  to  13  inches  may  be  assumed  for  New  England  and  the  middle  states.  In  the  region  we  are  considering, 
according  to  the  remarks  on  pages  16  to  18,  I  have  modified  these  figures  by  taking  them  somewhat  smaller, 
on  the  supposition  that  the  percentage  of  rainfall  discharged  is  smaller.  This  will  agree  pretty  closely  with  the 
available  annual  flow  in  very  dry  years ;  for  if  we  take  40  per  cent,  of  the  rainfall  as  available,  and  0.7  of  the 
mean  annual  rainfall  for  the  rainfall  during  a  dry  year,*  we  shall  have  for  a  rainfall  of  40  and  50  inches,  respectively, 
11.2  and  14  inches  available. 

Any  calculations  respecting  the  amount  of  storage  necessary  can  only  be  rough  approximations,  and  may, 
perhaps,  prove  entirely  fallacious,  on  account  of  the  total  absence  of  data  regarding  the  flow  of  the  streams  in  different 
months.  A  comparison  and  a  study  of  all  the  data  that  I  can  find  regarding  other  streams  has  led  me  to  the 
opinion  that  the  storage  necessary  to  render  the  above  quantity  available  will  be  between  2  and  4  inches  on  the 
water-shed,  varying  according  to  the  various  local  and  climatic  conditions  (see  pages  8  to  16)  and  according 
to  the  area  of  the  water-shed,  being  greater  for  small  water-sheds  than  for  large  ones.  But  this  is  a  very  rough 
approximation. 

d.  The  mean  low -season  Jlotc  in  dry  years  (but  not  the  driest)  I  have  approximated  by  taking  11  to  16  inches 
of  rainfall  available,  and  taking  a  certain  proportion  of  this  as  the  amount  flowing  in  the  one  or  two  months 
of  the  season  of  low  flow,  according  to  the  table  on  page  21,  modified  somewhat  according  to  circumstances;  or,  in 
many  cases,  by  simply  increasing  by  one-seventh  the  estimate  of  the  minimum  low-season  flow.  Without  storage, 
this  flow  may  generally  be  depended  upon,  except  in  low  seasons  of  very  dry  years,  when  the  supply  may  be 
deficient  for  several  weeks  at  a  time.   In  ordinary  years  one-quarter  more  may  be  calculated  upon. 

In  all  cases  referring  to  low- season  flow  the  flow  will  generally  be  at  least  twice  as  great  for  nine  months  in 
the  year. 

Any  attempt  to  utilize  the  mean  annual  flow  would  result  in  failure  of  supply  in  very  dry  years. 

It  is  a  question  to  be  determined  in  each  case  separately,  from  financial  and  other  considerations,  how  much 
power  it  will  be  desirable  to  utilize,  with  due  consideration  of  such  points  as  the  length  of  time  during  which  the 
supply  will  fail  and  cost  of  supplementary  steam-power. 

In  view  of  the  uncertainty  of  this  subject,  the  estimates  which  I  have  made  must  all  be  considered  only  rough 
approximations,  but  on  account  of  lack  of  data  I  am  unable  to  make  them  more  reliable. 


*  Fanning  :  Treatise  on  American  Water-Supply  Engineering. 


679 


20 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  following  tables  have  already  been  referred  to,  and  are  compiled  from  various  sources  i 

Table  showing  extremes  of  flow  for  some  American  streams. 


River. 


Place. 


Mean  rainfall,  inches. 


Remarks  on  character 
of  drainage  basin. 


Extremes  of  flow. 


a  a 

o  o 
_  o 
a  a> 
S3  to 


a  a 

3  U 


3 


P«3 

-I 

3 

.2  3 

gs 
N 

.§  I 
3  s 


£  p. « 

>-.<s  » 

o  ^» 

aS  § 
"go  a 
O 


Authority  and  re- 
marks. 


Merrimack 
Merrimack 


Concord  . 
Sudbury . 


Lawrence. 


Lowell  

Framingham. 


3, 598.  00 
4, 136.  00 
352. 00 


78.00  n 


Charles  

Hale's  Brook, 

Mass. 
Connecticut  . 


Connecticut  . 


Hartford. 


Dartmouth . 


Housatonic  . 


Croton 


W.  Br.  Croton 
Passaio  


Passaic  

Delaware  

Schuylkill . . . 

Hackensack  . 

Ohio  

Potomac  


Lambertville . 


Philadelphia . 


Pittsburg  . . . 
Cumberland  , 


Potomac . 


Dam  No.  5 . 


Potomac  

Rock  Creek. . 
Kanawha  


Great  Palls  

Hoyle's  Mill  

Charleston  pool . . . 


Grcenbriar  .  .  Mouth  of  Howard's 
Creek. 

Shenandoah  .  Near  Port  Repub 
lie. 

James   Richmond 


Neuse 


Near  Raleigh 


236.  00 
24.  00 

10, 234.  00 


3, 287.  00 

790.00 

338. 82 

20.37 
855.  00 

981.  00 

6,500.0± 

1,800.  00 

84.00 

19,900.  00 
920.  00 

4,  640.  0± 

11,  476.  00 
64. 40 
8,  900.  00 
870.  00 
770. 00 
6, 800.  00 

1,  000.  00 


10 


10 


10 


10 


10 


11 


10 


Lakes  and  artificial  res- 
ervoirs. "Wooded. 

Lakes  and  artificial  res- 
ervoirs. Wooded. 


Hilly  and  swampy. 
One  -  sixth  to  one- 
eighth  wooded. 

Hilly  and  rolling  


Numerous  lakes  and 
artificial  reservoirs. 
"Wooded.  Mountain- 
ous in  parts. 

Numerous  lakes  and 
artificial  reservoirs. 
"Wooded.  Mountain- 
ous in  parts. 


05 
153 

244 
18 

270 
0U 


Somo  lakes  and 
swamps.  Hilly. 

Some  lakes  and 
swamps.  Hilly. 

Hilly  and  rolling. 
Many  lakes.  "Well 
wooded. 

Hilly  and  rolling.  No 
lakes.  Some  reser- 
voirs. 

Plat.  No  lakes  or  res- 
ervoirs, except  mill- 
ponds. 

Hilly  and  mountaiuous. 
No  lakes.  Wooded. 

Narrow  valley  s.  Steep 
slopes.  Wooded.  No 
lakes. 

Narrow  valleys.  Steep 
slopes.  "Wooded.  No 
lakes. 

Country  more  open. 
No  lakes. 


Mountainous.  Steep. 

No  lakes.  Wooded. 
Mountainous.  Steep. 

No  lakes.  Wooded. 
Hilly.  Limestone.  No 

lakes.  Many  springs. 
Mountainous  iu  upper 

part.     No  lakes. 

Wooded. 
Open.    Clay  and  loam. 

No  lakes.  Few  ex- 
tensive woods. 


96,  782 


4,449 
3,  228 


207, 443 


25,367 


1, 109 


19, 944 
350,  000 


17, 900 


92, 772 


120,  000  ± 


1,  638.  00 
2, 192.  00 


59.84 
2.  80 


44.  00 
3.24 

5, 219.  00 


1, 006.  00 


130.  00 


50.80 


0.407 
178. 00 


225. 00 
2,  000.  00 


307.0 
to 

378.0 
27.00 


2, 271.  00 
25.  00 

363.  00 

1,  063. 00 
7.  50 
1, 100. 00 
97.00 
128.  00 
1,300.0+ 


44 

74 
1,153 


40 


500 


2,  722 


175 


716 


255 


110 


0.  414 


0.530 


0. 170 
0.036 


0. 188 
0. 135 


0.510 


0.306 


0.165 


0. 150 


0.020 
0.208 


0.  230 
0.300 


0.17 
to 
0. 21 
0.  33(?) 


0. 114 
0.022 

0.  0783 

0.093 
0.114 
0.123 
0. 120 
0. 167 
0. 191 


J.  B.  Francis,  quoted 

by  J.  P.  Kirkwood. 
C.  Herschel. 

C.  Herschel. 
A.  Fteley. 


J.  P.  Kirkwood. 
J.  P.  FrizelL 

T.  G.  Ellis. 


0.458 


0.193 


C.  Herschel. 


H.  Loom  is,  Rept  N. 
Y.  Com.  Pub.  Wks., 
1879. 

J.  J.  R.  Croes  and  G. 

W.  HowelL 
J.  J.  R.  Croes. 
J.  J.  R  Croes  and  G. 

W.  HowelL 
J.  J.  R.  Croes  and  G. 

W.  Howell. 
Ashbel  Welch. 


E.F.  Smith  and  H  P. 

M.  Birkinbine. 
C.  D.  Ward. 


J.  H.  Harlow. 

W.  R.  Hutton  and  Pat- 
terson. 

Quoted  by  W.  R  Hut- 
ton. 

W.  R.  Hutton. 

Quoted  by  W.  R.  Hut- 
ton. 

Gill,  Scott,  and  Hut- 
ton. 
McNeill. 

J  aines  Herron. 

H.  D.  Whitcomb  and 
W.  E.  Cutshaw. 

W.    C.    Kerr,  low 
water. 


C80 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  21 


Table  of  monthly  flow  in  dry  years. 


quare 

Flow  in  inches  on  water-shed. 

Katio  of  monthly  to  mean  flow. 

Hi  vers. 

area,  s 
ilea. 

onth. 

•  the 

I9 

a 

5  b 

A 

"3 

1 

<o 

9 
>> 

u 

3Con( 

•p 
!a 

ourtl 

ifth. 

1 

,a 

2a 

CO 

inth, 

enth, 

level 

welf 

O 

05 

■d 
0 
o 

<D 

bird. 

ourtl 

ifth. 

S 

"8 

© 
> 

ightl 

inth, 

a 

> 

g 

R 

R 

co 

H 

h 

H 

CO 

co 

@ 

H 

B 

H 

co 

H 

w 

to 

CO 

'W 

H 

H 

339 

0. 20 

0.35 

0.55 

0.63 

0.87 

0.94 

1.52 

1.63 

1.  80 

1.  90 

2.08 

2.27 

14.  72 

0. 16 

0.29 

0.43 

0.  51 

0.  71 

0.  77 

1. 24 

t.  33 

1.47 

1.55 

1.70 

1.85 

352 

0.  25 

0. 32 

0.  36 

0. 43 

0.54 

0.  68 

0.  85 

1.  07 

1. 36 

1.  70 

» 

3.62 

13. 33 

0. 22 

0.  29 

0.  32 

0.  39 

0.  49 

0.  61 

0.76 

0.  96 

1.  23 

1.53 

1.94 

3. 26 

4, 136 

0. 68 

0. 70 

0.77 

0.  85 

1.00 

1. 13 

1.30 

1.53 

1.  98 

2.  55 

3. 22 

5.42 

21. 13 

i0.  38 

0.  40 

0. 44 

0.  48 

0.57 

0.64 

0.74 

0. 87 

1. 12 

1. 45 

1. 83 

3.08 

tt>,  234 

0.  65 

0.68 

0. 71 

0.  74 

0.88 

0.  90 

1.28 

1.51 

a.  80 

2. 02 

3.  28 

4. 71 

19.16 

0.41 

0.  43 

0.45 

0. 46 

6.  55 

0. 56 

0.80 

«.95 

1.13 

1. 26 

2.  05 

2.95 

Sohuylkill*  

1,800 

0.27 

0.30 

0.38 

0.40 

0.53 

0.62 

0.  68 

0. 79 

0. 88 

0. 98 

1.  08 

1.  59 

8.50 

1°'  ^ 

0.42 

0.54 

0.57 

0. 75 

0.88 

0. 96 

1.12 

1.24 

1. 38 

1.52 

2.24 

Table  of  monthly  average  flow  for  a  series  of  years. 


339 

0. 56  0. 95 1. 12 

1. 21 1. 43 1. 82 

2. 

1 

302.  57 

1       1  I 
77  3.  02  3.  60  4.  00 

1       1  1 

25.35 

I       1       I       1  1 
0. 26  0.  45  0.  53  0. 57  0.  68  0.  8 

1  1 
6,1.09,1. 21 

1.  31 1. 43 

1. 

70 

1.90 

352 

0. 39  0. 46  0. 51 

0.  e^O.  76  0.  96 

1. 

25  1.  52 

L 

92  2. 38(3.  00  4.86 

18.  62 

0. 25  0.  30^.  33  0. 39^.  49  0.  62  0.  81,0.  98 

1.  24 1.  53 

1. 

93 

3.13 

4, 136 

0. 77  0. 88 1.  06 

1. 26 1.  52 11.  80 

2. 

t 

12,2. 49 

3. 

03:3. 73  4.  63  6. 56 

29.85 

0. 310.  36  0. 43  0.  51  0.  61 0. 72  0. 85 1. 00 

L  22  1.  50 

1. 

86 

2.63 

10,234 

0. 75  0. 85  0. 91 

L  10 1.  34 1. 58 

2. 

00^2.  36 

2. 

81 3.  27|4.  52  6.  26 

27.75 

0. 33|0.  37J0.  39|0. 47|0.  58^0. 6 

8  0. 87  1. 02 

1.211.41 

1. 

96 

2. 71 

Table  of  monthly  flow  in  dry  years  of  streams  of  small  drainage  area. 


Cochitnate  

19.00 

1       |       1       1  1 
0.  08  0. 41  0.46  0.  47,0.  70^.8 

i    I  1 

8  0.  97  1.  03  1. 11 

1.31 

1.47 

2.26 

11. 15 

0.  09,0. 14  0.  50 

!     I     1  I 

0.510. 75  0.  95^.  031.11 

1.20 

1.41 

1. 

58 

2. 43 

Oroton,  "Western  Branch  

20.  37 

0.10  0. 17  0. 46  0.  53  0.  67:0.  8 

4  0.  98 1.  02  2.  31 

3.37 

3. 41 

5.40 

19.  26 

0.  06  0. 10  0.  28 

0. 33  0. 42  0.  52  0. 61  0. 64 

1. 44 

2.10 

2. 

13 

3.37 

Sudbury  

76.  30 

0. 11 0. 16^.  25  0.  39  0.  57  0. 791.  06,1. 401.  79 

2.21 

2. 77 

5.  09 

16.59 

0. 08^.  11 0. 18 

0.28  0.  4^0.  57  0.  77,1.01 

1. 29 

1.  60 

2. 

ul 

3.69 

50-100 

0. 11 0. 150.  21 0.  27  0. 49  0. 67  0.  90  1.  22 1. 77 

1    I    !    i    1    1    1  1 

1.87 

2.13 

H 

13.44 

0. 10  0. 13  0. 19 

0.  24  0. 44  0.  60  0.  80 1. 09 

1       1       1  1 

1.58 

1. 67 

1. 

90 

3.  26 

*  Charles  G.  Darrach,  in  Engineering  News,  April  3,  1880,  p.  122. 


The  mouth  of  least  flow  (the  driest  month)  varies  considerably  from  year  to  year,  falling  sometimes  in  the  • 
summer  and  sometimes  in  the  winter,  and  the  months  do  not  succeed  each  other  in  the  order  of  dryness.   As  a 
rule,  however,  the  driest  mouths  fall  in  summer,  although  sometimes  the  difference  is  not  very  pronounced.  (See 
a  paper  by  Mr.  Clemens  Herschel,  "The  Gauging  of  Streams."    Transac.  Am.  Soc.  Civ.  Engrs.,  vol.  vii,  1878,  p.  236.) 
The  last  three  tables  are  principally  from  Mr.  Oroes'  report  to  the  Newark  Aqueduct  Board. 

In  describing  the  separate  water-powers  I  have  therefore  given  four  estimates.  For  convenience  of  reference 
I  will  recapitulate  them  here,  noting  briefly  their  exact  meaning : 

1.  Absolut  e  minimum  can  be  depended  upon  always,  and  with  no  storage  at  all.     Large  waste  all  the 
time,  except  for  a  few  days  at  a  time  in  intervals  of  several  years. 

2.  Minimum  low-season  flow,  with  no  storage,  can  be  depended  upon  at  all  times,  except  for  a  short 
time  in  some  dry  seasons — perhaps  for  a  few  days  in  the  dry  season  of  each  year.  With  small  storage  can  be 
depended  upon  all  the  time. 

3.  Mean  flow  in  very  dry  years. — Maximum  amount  permanently  available  tcith  storage.  Storage  capacity 
as  already  discussed.  With  larger  storage  a  greater  amouut  could  perhaps  be  utilized  for  several  years  in  succession, 
but  not  permanently. 

4.  Low-season  flow  in  ordinary  dry  years,  without  storage,  can  be  depended  upon  generally,  except 
in  the  low  season  of  dry  years,  when  the  supply  will  be  deficient  for,  perhaps,  several  weeks;  in  very  dry  years, 
when  the  supply  will  be  deficient  for  a  longer  time,  and  in  ordinary  years,  when  tbe  supply  may  be  deficient  for  a 
few  days  at  a  time ;  can  be  rendered  permanently  available  by  storage.  The  low-season  flow  of  ordinary  years  can 
be  depended  upon  less  than  the  above,  but  generally  for  nine  months  of  every  year. 

TIDAL  WATER-POWER. 

There  is  no  tidal  power  either  used  or  available  in  the  district  considered,  partly  because  there  are  no  facilities 
for  storing  water,  and  partly  because,  as  is  evident  from  the  topography  of  the  country,  there  are  no  facilities  for 
location  of  buildings  on  a  low  and  swampy  coast. 

TOTAL  AVAILABLE  POWER. 

It  is  customary  to  attempt  to  estimate  the  total  available  power  of  a  district  by  assuming  the  average  elevation 
and  the  quantity  of  water  discharged.  Such  estimates  have  little  value,  because  a  large  proportion  of  the  power 
so  estimated  is,  in  fact,  unavailable,  ou  account  of  topographical  features.  In  regard  to  the  region  under 
consideration,  however,  it  is  to  be  noticed  that  as  the  elevation  of  the  Atlantic  plane,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains, 


22 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


is  much  greater  than  in  the  states  farther  north,  varying  from  1,200  feet  in  North  Carolina,  at  the  sources  of  the 
Catawba,  to  500*  feet  in  Virginia  and  100  to  300  feet  in  Pennsylvania,*  the  total  theoretical  power  in  the  region  we 
are  considering  will  be  very  large  in  proportion  to  its  area,  especially  if  we  exclude  the  eastern  division  from 
consideration. 

After  having  presented  the  general  features  of  the  district  under  consideration,  briefly  pointed  out  the  general 
principles  relating  to  the  amount  of  power  available,  and  explained  the  method  used  in  calculating  it,  it  is  now  only 
necessary  to  show  how,  in  the  application  of  those  principles,  the  general  characteristics  of  the  region  show  their 
effects  and  are  to  be  taken  into  account. 

G.— General  results.  . 

1.  It  follows  from  the  position  of  the  region  that  the  warm  and  moist  SW.  winds  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
traverse  its  whole  extent.  Hence  the  rainfall  is  greatest  (02  inches)  in  Alabama  and  southern  Georgia,  while  the 
evaporation  is  comparatively  small,  because  the  air  is  moist,  and  the  rainfall  diminishes  to  44  inches  and  less  in  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia,  while  the  air  becomes  drier  and  the  evaporation  greater.  Above  North  Carolina  the  greater 
part  of  the  rain  comes  from  the  Atlantic,  while  south  of  Virginia  most  of  it  comes  from  the  Gulf.  This  tact — that  the 
evaporation  increases  toward  the  north — has  an  important  bearing  on  the  flow  of  the  streams,  which  will  be  referred 
to  farther  on. 

2.  From  the  topography  it  follows  that  all  the  water-power  of  importance  is  in  the  middle,  division.  In  the 
eastern  division  the  streams  are  too  sluggish,  and  in  the  western  the3T  are  too  small  and  inconstant.  Although  the 
middle  division  is  very  favorably  disposed  for  water-power,  it  is  unfortunate  that  in  the  eastern  division,  just  where 
the  streams  are  the  largest,  the  conditions  are  not  favorable.  The  middle  division  is,  topographically,  very 
favorable  for  power.  The  fall  of  the  streams  is  great,  but  as  a  whole  tolerably  uniform,  and  their  volume 
moderately  large.  They  cross  the  ledges  of  rock  at  large  angles,  forming  many  rapids,  rifts,  or  falls  in  all  parts  of 
this  region.  These  ledges,  being  composed  of  hard,  durable,  and  impervious  rocks,  generally  granite  or  similar 
rocks,  insure  the  permanence  of  the  powers,  and  afford  everywhere  good  sites  for  dams.  The  shape  of  the  river 
valleys  is  such  as  to  render  the  utilization  of  the  power  in  most  cases  easy,  there  being  only  a  very  few  instances  of 
anything  approaching  the  canon  structure.  The  facilities  for  storing  water  are,  on  the  whole,  good,  though  the 
shape  of  the  valleys  does  not  seem  to  be  particularly  favorable;  for  in  the  mountains  the  fall  is  too  great  and  the 
valleys  too  narrow  to  afford  large  reservoir  room,  while  lower  down  the  rivers  are  bordered  by  fertile  bottom-lands, 
which  it  might  be  inadvisable  to  overflow,  and  besides,  as  the  streams  are  tolerably  large,  it  would  be  difficult  to 
store  sufficient  water  to  increase  the  power  much.  In  the  matter  of  storage  this  region  is  notably  less  favorable 
than  such  states  as  Maine  and  Pennsylvania.  The  absence  of  lakes,  also,  operates  unfavorably  on  the  volume  and 
constancy  of  the  streams,  especially  in  the  upper  parts,  and  this  is  counteracted  by  the  action  of  the  forests  perhaps 
to  a  less  extent  than  might  be  supposed.    (See  below.) 

The  country  in  the  middle  division  being  moderately  hilly,  the  rainfall  is  neither  precipitated  suddenly  into 
the  river  channels,  rendering  them  subject  to  sudden  freshets,  nor  is  it  discharged  too  gradually,  so  as  to  render 
the  evaporation  abnormally  large.  On  the  contrary,  the  depth  and  perviousness  of  the  soil,  the  fact  that  it  is 
everywhere  underlaid  with  hard  and  impervious  rock,  and  that  the  rivers  have  cut  their  channels  down  to  this 
rock-bed,  contribute  to  the  volume  and  constancy  of  the  streams,  and  diminish  the  loss  by  evaporation  and  by 
subterranean  flowage.  This  depth  of  soil,  serving  to  store  the  waters,  is  especially  beneficial  in  view  of  the 
variability  of  the  rainfall,  in  which  respect  some  parts  of  this  region  stand  at  a  disadvantage,  which  is  thus,  to 
some  extent,  compensated  for.  Iu  Maine,  for  instance,  the  soil  is  very  shallow  compared  with  that  in  North 
Carolina,  but  the  rainfall  is  very  equally  distributed  throughout  the  year.  (See  page  17  for  further  remarks  on 
this  subject.) 

3.  The  influence  of  the  forests  in  the  western  division  is  favorable,  yet  not  to  such  an  extent  as  might  be 
supposed,  according  to  what  has  been  said  regarding  the  influence  of  woods  in  winter  and  in  summer.  In  fact, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  at  least  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  region  considered  less  water  percolates  into 
the  ground  in  winter,  to  be  stored  and  given  out  by  springs,  than  in  open  ground.  From  the  experiments  which 
have  been  referred  to,  the  conclusion  has  been  drawn  for  Germany  that  the  cutting  down  of  forests  has  the  effect  in 
winter  of  increasing  the  discharge  of  springs  and  causing  a  higher  average  stage  of  the  water  iu  the  streams  than 
existed  before.!  In  hot  regions,  and  iu  summer,  the  cutting  down  of  woods  has  the  opposite  effect,  but  it  does  not  seem 
improbable  that,  for  the  district  considered,  the  effect  would  be  to  a  certain  extent  as  stated,  especially  if  (as  is  the 
case  in  the  western  part  of  the  district  in  many  cases)  the  rainfall  is  greater  in  winter  than  in  summer.  For  this 
reason  it  is  easy  to  overestimate  the  effect  of  the  forests  as  regulators  of  flow.  Their  effect  is  certainly  very  much 
smaller  than  in  regions  where  the  rainfall  is  greater  in  summer  than  iu  winter,  in  which  case  their  efiect  is  very 
beneficial  and  only  exceeded  by  that  of  lakes  or  artificial,  reservoirs  and  surface  materials.   The  fact  that  the 

*  Guyot. 

t  Ebermaykr  :  Die  physikalischen  Eimvirkvvgcn  des  Waldes  avf  Luft  inid  Boden,  nvd  seine  klimatologische  itnd  hygicnischc  Bedeviling. 
Berlin,  1873,  p.  223. 

C82 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


23 


mountains  in  this  district  are  covered  with  soil  is  one  of  great -importance,  and  on  this  account  the  flow  of  the 
streams  will  be  much  more  constant  than  it  would  otherwise  be. 

4.  I  have  already  alluded  to  the  winds  and  the  position  of  this  region  as  affecting  its  water-power.  As  regards 
temperature,  it  is,  ©f  course,  higher  in  this  region  than  in  New  England.  In  summer  the  difference  is  some  12°;  in 
winter,  over  20°;  and  for  the  year,  in  the  middle  division,  12°  to  15°.  The  average  temperature  in  winter  is  far 
above  the  freezing  point;  hence  the  streams  rarely  freeze  over.  Trouble  with  ice  is  almost  unknown,  and,  in  this 
respect,  this  region  has  a  great  advantage  over  the  more  northern  states,  which  is,  however,  partially  offset  by  the 
fact  that  the  evaporation  is  greater. 

Mr.  Wells,  in  his  report  on  the  water-power  of  Maine,  dwells  upon  the  fact,  which  he  says  is  founded  on  the 
testimony  of  persons  who  have  had  the  largest  and  most  varied  experience  in  manufacturing  in  Maine  and  other 
states,  that  operatives  can  accomplish  much  more  in  winter  than  in  summer,  or  in  cold  than  in  warm  states.  I 
quote  Mr.  Wells7  remarks  on  this  point : 

It  is  well  known  that  at  the  large  majority  of  manufacturing  labors  the  burden  of  the  day's  work  is  felt  by  the  operative  to  be  much 
heavier  in  summer  than  in  winter.  The  cold  of  the  latter  season  can  be  so  guarded  against  and  mollified  that  throughout  the  whole  establish- 
ment precisely,  or  very  nearly,  that  temperature  can  be  secured  which  is  most  contributive  to  vigorous  exertion.  But  the  heat  of  summer, 
pervading  and  penetrating  everything,  and  brought  in  at  every  open  window  with  the  necessary  supplies  of  fresh  air,  cannot  bo  shut  out. 
It  cannot  bo  qualified.  It  oppresses  the  worker  with  a  languor  rarely  experienced  in  out-of-door  avocations,  and  renders  it  impossible 
for  him  to  do  so  much  or  do  so  well  as  he  can  easily  do  in  cool  weather.  Accordingly,  the  evidence  is  that  in  Maine, where  the  summer 
temperature  is  low,  where  it  rises  above  the  point  of  comfort  for  but  a  few  days  for  the  whole  season,  operatives,  circumstanced  equally  in 
every  other  respect,  accomplish  more  than  in  the  interior  and  more  southern  states  by  the  truly  remarkable  fraction  of  10  per  cent. 

It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind  that  although  in  warmer  climates  the  operatives  are  unable  to  accomplish 
so  much,  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  the  expense  for  heating  the  factory  buildings  is  greatly  reduced,  and  that,  further, 
as  the  operatives  can  live  more  cheaply  on  account  of  not  needing  so  much  artificial  heating  in  their  houses,  their 
wages  may  be  much  less  in  proportion.  In  fact,  it  is  stated  that  the  wages  paid  to  operatives  in  cotton  factories  in  the 
southern  states  is  34  per  cent,  less  than  in  the  New  England  states.*  The  table  of  maximum  observed  temperatures 
shows  that  the  maximum  observed  temperature  in  Maine  is  about  the  same  as  in  Georgia.  The  following  table  of 
the  mean  temperatures  of  the  hottest  and  coldest  months  of  the  year  will  enable  a  comparison  to  be  made  between 
the  New  England  states  and  the  southern  states,  and  will  show  that  the  difference  is  not  so  great  as  is  generally 
supposed. 

Table  of  mean  temperatures  of  hottest  and  coldest  months  in  various  places. 


Place. 


Bath,  Me  

Castine,  Me  

Brunswick,  Me  

Newport,  It.  I  

Providence,  R.  J..  . . 
New  Haven,  Conn. . . 

Hartford,  Conn  

Manchester,  N.  H  . . . 

New  York,  N.  Y  

Newark,  N.  J  

Philadelphia,  Pa  

Harrisburg,  Pa  

Baltimore,  Md  

Washington,  D.  C  . . . 
Fortress  Monroe,  Va 
Fort  Johnston,  N.  C . 
Chapel  Hill, N.  C.... 

Asheville,  N.  C  

Aiken,  S.  C  

Camden,  S.  C  

Charleston,  S.  C  

Columbia,  S.  C  

Fort  Moultrie,  S.  C . . 

Athens,  G^  

Atlanta,  Ga  

Augusta,  Ga  


Number  of 
years  of  ob- 
servation. 


Trs.  Mos. 


10 
40 
51 
34 
40 
86 
16 
14 
24 
21 
51 
29 
'36 
12 
45 
15 
20 
6 
8 
9 
24 
4 
32 
6 
5 
21 


11 
11 
6 
2 
7 


Mean  tempera- 
tures of  hot- 
test month. 


Degrees. 

68.71 
64.82 
67. 44 
70.98 
70. 14 
71.  69 
72.14 
72.94 
72.93 
75.06 
75.  20 
78.63 

77.  35 

78.  26 
7a  73 
81.64 
78.  38 
74.  00 
78.  80 
80.04 
80.  22 
78.  78 
81.94 
70.33 
77.  50 
82.16 


'Address  of  Hon.  E.  Steadman,  before  the  convention  of  the  Georgia  State  Agricultural  Society,  August,  1876.  According  to  the 
oensus  of  1870,  the  average  wages  paid  to  operatives  in  cotton  factories  in  various  states  was  as  follows,  in  dollars,  per  annum :  Maine,  272 ; 
New  Hampshire,  311;  Vermont,  277;  Massachusetts,  311;  Rhode  Island,  310;  Connecticut,  270;  Pennsylvania,  276;  Maryland,  236; 
Virginia,  132;  North  Carolina,  130;  South  Carolina,  230;  Georgia,  222.  The  wages  will  depend  somewhat  on  the  quality  of  goods 
manufactured,  but  the  average  is  evidently  mueh  less  in  the  south. 

:  v  6}3 


24 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Most  of  the  stations  in  the  southern  states  are  in  the  eastern  division,  where  the  weather  is  much  warmer  than  in 
the  middle  and  western  divisions,  where  the  water-power  is.  The  table  shows  that  at  Athens  and  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
which  are  the  best  types  of  the  middle  section,  the  mean  temperature  of  the  warmest  month  is  not  much  different 
from  that  in  the  middle  states,  although  Maine,  it  is  true,  has  a  lower  temperature  by  some  10°.  It  seems  to  me, 
however,  that  this  effect  of  temperature  has  been  overestimated,  and  that,  so  far  as  it  alone  is  concerned,  the 
advantages  in  the  southern  Atlantic  states  more  than  counterbalance  the  disadvantages. 

5.  As  regards  the  rainfall,  its  distribution  throughout  the  year  on  the  water-shed  of  each  river  is  to  be  carefully 
considered.  Variability  in  this  distribution  may  not  be  a  disadvantage,  but  on  the  contrary,  if  the  summer  fall  is 
greater  than  the  winter  fall,  the  flow  of  the  streams  will  be  more  regular,  other  things  being  equal.  In  determining 
the  ratios  to  be  used  in  estimating  flow  I  have  been  influenced  by  this  consideration,  and  if  of  two  streams,  similar 
in  other  respects,  one  has  more  rain  in  summer  than  in  winter,  and  the  other  more  in  winter  than  in  summer,  I 
have  taken  the  minimum  flow  of  the  former  considerably  greater  than  that  of  the  latter.  Differences  in  the 
evaporation  in  different  parts  of  the  district  also  come  into  consideration.  If  the  other  climatic  conditions  remained 
the  same,  the  effect  of  variability  in  the  rainfall  would  be  seen  in  a  corresponding  variation  in  the  flow  of  the 
streams,  and  in  those  seasons  when  most  rain  fell  the  flow  of  the  streams  would  be  greater.  Yet  in  the  New  England 
states,  as  well  as  in  the  southern  states,  the  streams  are  lowest  in  summer,  even  when  more  rain  falls  in  that  season, 
showing  that  the  evaporation  in  that  season  is  more  than  sufficient  to  make  up  for  the  greater  rainfall.  It  is  true 
that  in  the  North  there  is  a  winter  drought,  caused  by  the  snow  lying  so  long  on  the  ground,  so  that  little  of  the 
precipitation  reaches  the  streams;  yet,  although  in  some  cases  the  driest  month,  or  the  month  when  the  streams 
are  lowest,  falls  in  the  winter,  in  general  the  summer  drought  is  greater  than  the  wiater  drought.  On  account  of 
the  increased  evaporation,  the  southern  streams  will,  in  all  probability,  discharge  a  smaller  proportion  of  the 
rainfall  on  their  drainage  areas  than  those  in  New  England.  Finally,  the  effect  of  soil  and  lakes  must  not  be 
overlooked  in  comparing  this  region  with  New  England,  and  in  estimating  the  flow  of  the  streams. 

The  foregoing  remarks  have  been  made  because  it  is  necessary  to  present  the  principles  which  have  guided 
me  in  making  my  estimates.  The  conditions  determining  the  flow  are,  however,  so  various,  that  they  cannot  all 
be  given  due  weight,  even  if  they  were  all  accurately  known;  so  that  the  only  safe  guide  in  practical  questions 
regarding  flow  is  a  series  of  gaugings  extending  over  a  number  of  years.  But  as  I  have  not  a  single  such  series 
for  the  district  considered  I  am  obliged  to  resort  entirely  to  estimate.  Every  engineer  can  form  his  own  conclusions 
from  the  data  at  hand,  and  many  may  not  be  disposed  to  approve  of  the  figures  given. 


I.—THE  CHOWAN  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  CHOWAN  RIVER. 

The  first  river  south  of  the  James  worth  considering  is  the  Ohowau,  for  although  there  is  no  water-power  on 
the  main  stream  there  is  some  on  the  tributaries.  The  Chowan  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Blackwater  and 
Nottoway  rivers,  nearly  on  the  line  between  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  whence  it  flows  nearly  south  into  Albemarle 
sound,  between  Hertford  and  Bertie  counties  on  its  right  aud  Gates  and  Chowan  on  its  left,  entering  the  sound  at 
its  western  extremity.  It  is  navigable  for  its  whole  length — about  38  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  perhaps  60  by 
the  river.  Its  total  drainage  area  is  about  4,870  square  miles,  and  its  principal  tributary  is  the  Meherrin,  which 
enters  from  the  west.  It  flows,  with  a  sluggish  current,  through  a  low  and  swampy  country,  entirely  below  the  fall- 
line,  with  large  portions  subject  to  overflow  at  times,  and  possesses  no  water-power  whatever,  used  or  available. 
The  principal  town  on  the  river  is  Winton,  the  county  seat  of  Hertford  county.  The  trade  on  the  river  is  of 
considerable  importance,  large  quantities  of  cotton,  corn,  wheat,  tobacco,  lumber,  aud  fish  being  shipped. 

THE  MEHERRIN  RIVER. 

This  stream  is  the  most  important  tributary  of  the  Chowan.  It  rises  in  Charlotte,  Lunenburg,  and  Mecklenburg 
counties,  Virginia,  flows  a  little  south  of  east,  forming  the  boundary  between  Lunenburg  and  Mecklenburg  counties; 
thence  flows  through  Brunswick  and  Greenville,  and  between  Greenville  and  Southampton  counties,  Virginia,  and 
finally  through  Hertford  county,  North  Carolina,  emptying  into  the  Chowan  several  miles  above  Winton.  Its 
length,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  100  miles,  but  is  considerably  greater  by  the  river.  It  is  navigable  beyond  the 
North  Carolina  line,  a  distance  by  the  river  of  over  30  miles.  The  principal  towns  on  the  stream  are  Murfreesboro', 
North  Carolina,  about  15  miles  from  the  mouth,  and  Hicksford,  Virginia,  about  50  or  60  miles  from  the  mouth. 
The  draiuage  area  of  the  Meherrin  comprises  about  1,675  square  miles,  about  half  of  which  lies  below  the  fall- 
•  line,  and  in  which  the  river  is  a  sluggish  stream,  with  a  bed  of  clay  or  sand,  aud  perhaps  occasionally  a  ledge  of 
rock.  Its  banks  are  subject  to  overflow,  and  the  adjacent  bottoms  or  low  grounds  are  covered  with  extensive  cypress 
swamps  and  pine  woods.  In  this  part  of  the  river  there  is,  of  course,  no  water-power.  Above  the  fall-line  the  count  ry 
is  not  so  level,  the  bed  of  the  stream  is  more  rocky,  and  the  banks  are  not  so  subject  to  overflow,  although  there 
are  still  extensive  low  grounds  which  are  flooded  at  times.  The  soil  is  sand  and  clay,  aud  very  fertile ;  the  couutry  well 

684 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


25 


wooded,  and  the  principal  products  are  cotton,  corn,  wheat,  tobacco,  fruits,  and  vegetables.  This  part  of  the  drainage- 
basin  belongs  geologically  to  the  Eozoic  formation,  while  that  below  the  fall-line  is  Tertiary  or  later.  The  fall  of 
the  stream  is  nowhere  very  great,  and  the  divides,  separating  its  drainage-basin  from  the  adjacent  ones,  are  nowhere 
very  high,  so  that  the  tributaries  also  have  no  very  great  fall.  The  latter,  however,  are  small,  and  not  of  mucli 
importance,  and  I  have  only  measured  the  drainage  areas  of  a  few  of  them.  The  results,  together  with  the  drainage 
areas  above  various  points  on  the  main  stream,  are  given  in  the  table  on  page  26. 

The  average  rainfall  on  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Meherrin  is  about  44  inches,  or  a  little  less,  of  which  about 
11  fall  in  spring,  13  in  summer,  8  in  autumn,  and  10  in  winter.  There  are  no  lakes  in  the  basin;  neither  are  the 
facilities  for  the  construction  of  storage  reservoirs  very  good,  the  country  being  too  flat. 

The  fall  of  the  river  in  the  last  30  miles  of  its  course  is  not  much  over  1  foot  to  the  mile,  the  elevation  above 
mean  tide  of  the  mean  water-surface  of  the  stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  railroad,  some  30 
miles  from  its  mouth,  being  31  feet. 

According  to  an  old  survey  by  J.  Williston,  whose  report  is  to  be  found  in  the  twenty-second  report  of  the  board 
of  public  works  of  Virginia,  the  fall  varies  from  1  to  3  feet  per  mile. 

In  the  entire  absence  of  gaugings  of  the  river  its  flow  would  have  to  be  estimated,  but  I  have  made  no  estimate 
because  of  the  small  value  of  the  stream  as  a  source  of  power. 

The  water-power  of  the  Meherrin  and  its  tributaries  is  not  of  great  importance.  The  flow  of  the  stream  is 
extremely  variable,  and  no  sites  of  importance  were  brought  to  my  notice.  Although  the  river  crosses  the  fall-line 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lawrenceville  or  Hicksford,  where  we  should  expect  to  find  a  fall,  I  succeeded  in  obtaining  no 
information  regarding  any  power  in  that  neighborhood.  There  seems  to  be  no  fall  on  either  the  Meherrin  or  the 
Nottoway  at  its  crossing  of  the  fall-line,  although  this  line  is  very  marked  in  the  case  of  the  Appomattox  and  the 
Roanoke.  The  river,  however,  is  very  inaccessible,  especially  above  the  fall-line — so  much  so  that  I  did  not  consider 
it  advisable  to  visit  it  at  any  point  above — and  it  is  therefore  possible  that  there  may  be  a  power  somewhere  in  this 
neighborhood.  With  the  exception  of  the  Petersburg  railroad,  which  crosses  the  river  near  Hicksford  nearly  at 
right  angles,  no  other  railroad  comes  within  15  or  20  miles  of  the  stream. 

As  to  building  materials,  there  is  abundance  of  flue  timber  in  all  parts  of  the  drainage-basin,  and  in  some  parts 
above  the  fall-line  granite  and  similar  rocks  may  be  found. 

The  country  is  sparsely  settled,  and  the  people  have  given  very  little  attention  to  the  subject  of  water-power, 
so  that  little  satisfactory  information  could  be  obtained  with  the  time  at  disposal.  The  power  utilized  on  the  stream 
will  be  found  tabulated  from  the  reports  of  the  enumerators,  on  page  27. 

THE-  BLACK  WATER  RIVER. 

This  stream  rises  in  Prince  George  county,  Virginia,  flows  in  a  direction  rather  east  of  south  between  Surry, 
Isle  of  Wight,  and  Nansemond  counties  on  its  left,  and  Sussex  and  Southampton  on  its  right,  joining  the  Nottoway, 
on  the  North  Carolina  line,  to  form  the  Chowan ;  its  length  in  a  straight  line  being  about  55  miles.  It  is  navigable 
to  the  town  of  Franklin,  the  head  of  tide-water,*  on  the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  railroad,  about  13  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  It  drains  an  area  of  about  700  square  miles,  lying  entirely  below  the  fall-line,  and  possessing 
little  water-power.  The  river  is  sluggish  and  tortuous,  flowing  mostly  through  cypress  swamps  with  dense 
undergrowth,  its  width  varying  below  Franklin  from  100  to  275  feet,  and  its  depth  from  8  to  38  feet.  Large  areas 
are  flooded  at  high  water,  although  the  extreme  rise  is  not  over  3  or  4  feet.*  The  fall  of  the  stream  for  22  miles 
above  Franklin  is  not  over  1J  or  2  feet  to  the  mile,  and  for  the  next  7  or  8  miles  only  very  slightly  greater,  t  The 
elevation  of  the  stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  railroad,  about  15  miles  above 
Franklin,  is  about  17£  feet  above  mean  tide  at  Norfolk.|  According  to  an  old  survey,§  the  divide  between  the 
Blackwater  and  the  Nansemond,  which  flows  into  the  James,  is  nowhere  more  than  83  feet  above  tide. 

The  rainfall  on  the  draiaage-basin  of  the  Blackwater  is  the  same,  and  similarly  distributed,  as  on  that  of  the 
Meherrin.    Estimates  of  flow  are  not  necessary,  on  account  of  the  absence  of  water-power  on  the  river. 

The  river  is  accessible  from  stations  on  the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  and  the  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
railroads,  the  latter  of  which  follows  the  river  for  some  35  miles  at  a  distance  from  it  of  only  3  or  4  miles. 

THE  NOTTOWAY  RIVER. 

This  river  rises  in  Prince  Edward,  Lunenburg,  and  Nottoway  counties,  Virginia,  and  flows  in  a  general  direction 
nearly  southeast  through  a  very  fertile  country,  forming  first  the  boundary  between  Nottoway  and  Diiiwiddie  counties 
on  its  left  and  Lunenburg  and  Brunswick  on  its  right,  thence  flowing  through  Sussex  and  Southampton,  joining  the 
Blackwater,  on  the  North  Carolina  line,  to  form  the  Chowan.  The  principal  town  on  the  stream  is  Jerusalem, 
Virginia.  The  length  of  the  stream,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  90  miles,  and  probably  over  125  if  its  windings  are 
followed.   The  table  on  page  26  gives  particulars  regarding  drainage  areas,  the  total  area  drained  being  about  1,650 

*  Annual  reports  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  appendix  G  12,  p.  620 ;  1878,  appendix  G  12,  p.  522 ;  1875,  p.  161. 
tOld  survey,  in  one  of  the  reports  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia. 

t  For  the  elevations  on  the  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  railroad  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Hunter,  of  Petersburg,  engineer  of  the  road. 
$  In  the  twenty-second  report  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia. 

685 


26 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


square  miles,  divided  nearly  in  two  equal  parts  by  Ike  fall-line.  The  head  of  tide-water  is  at  the  crossing  of  the 
Seaboard  and  Roanoke  railroad  at  Nottoway,  some  12  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream.*  The  tributaries  of  the 
Nottoway  are  not  of  muck  consequence,  the  principal  ones  being  Assainoosick,  Eowanty,  Stony,  and  Little  Nottoway 
creeks  from  tke  nortk  and  east,  and  Three  creek  and  Waqua  creek  from  the  south  and  west.  It  is  noticeable  here,  as 
elsewhere,  that  the  principal  tributaries  enter  from  the  northern  side  of  the  water  shed,  a  fact  already  referred  to. 

The  Nottoway  is  now  being  improved  by  the  government,  the  present  project  having  in  view  the  securing  a 
navigable  depth  of  4  or  5  feet  during  nine  months  of  the  year  as  high  as  Peter's  bridge,  something  over  50  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  and  20  miles  above  the  town  of  Jerusalem.  Five  thousand  dollars  have  been 
appropriated  for  the  work,  and  the  principal  obstructions  to  navigation,  which  consist  of  snags,  sunken  logs,  and 
overhanging  trees,  are  being  removed.  It  is  expected  that  at  low  water  a  navigable  depth  of  2  or  3  feet  will  be 
secured  as  high  as  Peter's  bridge,  and  of  7  or  8  feet  as  high  as  Monroe's  ferry,  about  15  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  measured  along  its  course.  The  drainage  areas  of  some  of  these  tributaries  are  given  in  the  table  of 
statistics.  The  principal  products  of  the  country  drained  by  the  Nottoway  are  cotton,  corn,  peanuts,  tobacco, 
and  wheat.  As  in  the  case  of  the  Meherrin,  I  heard  of  no  power  on  the  Nottoway  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  the 
fall-line.  But  in  one  of  the  reports  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia  I  found  an  account  of  a  survey  of  the 
river,  in  which  "the  Great  falls,  on  the  south  prong",  were  mentioned,  situated  9f  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Little  Nottoway ;  and  it  was  stated  that  the  river  there  was  37  feet  wide,  with  an  average  depth,  at  low  water, 
of  23  inches,  discharging  31  cubic  feet  per  second.  I  did  not  consider  it  worth  while  to  visit  so  small  a  power.  The 
drainage-basin  of  the  Nottoway  is  similar  in  all  respects  to  that  of  the  Meherrin  as  far  as  I  could  learn,  so  that  it 
need  not  be  described.  The  rainfall  is  also  about  the  same ;  estimates  of  the  flow  are  not  necessary.  No  gaugings 
could  be  found  for  this  river  except  the  one  mentioned  above. 

There  are  no  lakes  on  the  stream,  and  not  very  good  facilities  for  reservoirs.  The  bed  is  in  some  places  rock, 
but  generally  sand,  gravel,  and  clay.  Below  the  crossing  of  the  Petersburg  railroad  the  river  has  an  average  width 
of  about  68  feet,  with  banks  10  or  15  feet  high,  and  a  bed  of  coarse  gravel,  and  occasionally  sand,  loosely  deposited 
on  a  friable  sandstone.!  On  the  lower  part  there  are  considerable  areas  of  low  ground,  sometimes  overflowed. 
According  to  an  old  report,  the  stream  is  30  to  40  feet  wide  and  16  inches  deep  at  low  water  for  10  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Nottoway ;  the  current  is  gentle  and  the  bed  sandy.  The  Nottoway  is  more  accessible  than  the 
Meherrin,  being  nearer  to  the  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  railroad,  the  nearest  road  on  the  north. 

I  did  not  visit  any  sites  or  mills  on  the  river,  having  been  informed  that  they  were  unimportant.  The  same 
report  which  mentioned  the  falls  on  the  south  prong  referred  also  to  a  power  at  "Spencer's  mill",  where  there  was 
said  to  be  a  fall  of  12  to  15  feet;  but  I  was  unable  to  learn  more  particulars  regarding  this  place,  and  did  not  consider 
it  worth  while  to  devote  much  time  to  searching  for  it.  The  country  is  sparsely  settled,  and  the  people  have  given 
little  attention  to  water-power,  so  that  without  a  personal  examination  of  the  river  little  satisfactory  information 
could  be  obtained. 

The  tributaries  of  the  Nottoway  have  some  power,  as  is  shown  by  the  statistical  table,  but  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  only  mills  in  this  vicinity  are  grist-  and  saw-mills.  There  is  no  further  manufacturing  of  any  kind  by  water- 
power  in  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Chowan. 

From  what  has  been  said,  it  seems  that  the  tributaries  of  the  Ohowan  offer  little  water-power,  and  are  not, 
as  a  rule,  favorable  streams  for  manufacturing.  The  facilities  for  storage  are  small,  the  flow  is  variable,  on  account 
of  the  large  evaporation,  and  the  bed  and  banks  are  not  very  favorable  for  dams.  There  is,  of  course,  some  power 
available,  but  it  is,  according  to  all  accounts,  not  very  considerable. 

Table  of  drainage  areas  of  the  Chowan  river  and  tributaries. 


Chowan,  at  mouth  

Meherrin,  at  lower  edge  of  Lunenburg  county  

Mehenin,  at  lower  edge  of  Brunswick  county  

Meherrin,  at  lower  edge  of  Greenville  county  

Meherrin,  at  mouth  

Fontaine's  creek,  at  mouth  (tributary  of  Meherrin) 
North  Meherrin,  at  mouth  (tributary  of  Meherrin). 
Middle  Meherrin,  at'mouth  (tributary  of  Meherrin) 
South  Meherrin,  at  mouth  (tributary  of  Meherrin) . 

Black  >vator,  at  mouth  

Nottoway,  at  lower  edge  of  Nottoway  county  

Nottoway,  at  lower  edge  of  Dinwiddio  county  

Nottoway,  at  mouth  of  Kowanty  creek  

Nottoway,  at  lower  edge  of  Sussex  county  

Nottoway,  at  mouth    

Rowanty  creek,  at  mouth  (tributary  of  Nottoway) . 
Stony  creek,  at  mouth  (tributary  of  Nottoway)  

"For  the  elevations  of  streams  crossed  by  the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  railroad  I  am  indebted  to  the  president,  Mr.  John  M.  Robiuson. 
t  Twenty-first  report  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia;  report  on  survey  by  John  Williston. 

686 


River  and  place. 


urainage 
area. 


Square  miles. 
4,870 
376 
671 
1, 07O 
1,675 
288 
100 
35 
84 
700 
280 
475 
800 
1,  080 
1,650 
125 
210 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


27 


Table  of  utilized  po wer  of  the  Chowan  river  and  tributaries. 


Stream. 


Chowan  

Meherrin  river . 


Tributaries  to  . 


Blackwater  river 
Tributaries  to  ... , 


Nottoway  river 


Tributaries  of  . 


Tributary  to  what. 


Albemarle  sound . 
Chowan  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Meheirin  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do.  

Do  

Do  

Chowan  

Blackwater  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Chowan  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Nottoway  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Chowan  

Do  

Do  


State. 


North  Carolina. . 

Virginia   

....do  

....do  

...do   

...do   

...do  

....do   

North  Carolina  . 

...do   

...do   

Virginia  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  

.-..d0..-,V".:~. 

...do  

...do   

Virginia  

...do  

....do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

....do  i  

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  '.  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do   

North  Carolina  . 

...do  :  

...do   


County. 


Northampton . 
Southampton  . 

Greenville  

...  do  

Brunswick  

Mecklenburg . 

...do  

Lunenburg  . . . 

Hertford  

Northampton . 


Southampton  . . . 

Greenville  

...do   

...do   

Brunswick  

...do  

Mecklenburg . . . 

Lunenburg  

...do   

Surry  

Nansemond  

...do  

Southampton  . . 
Isle  of  Wight.. 

...do  

Surry  

Southampton  . . 

Greenville  

Dinwiddie  

Nottoway  

...do  

Prince  Edward 

...do   

Southampton  . . 

...do  

Sussex  

Dinwiddie  

..do  

Brunswick  

Lunenburg  

Nottoway  

...do   

Chowan  

Gates  

...do   


Kind  of  mill. 


Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

Saw  

...do   

Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Foundry  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

....do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

...do   

....do   

...do  

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  . 

....do   

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  . 

....do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Saw  


©  m 

a  a 


r2  OJ 


Feet. 
0 
9 
5 
31 
21 
20 
35 
12 
16 

29 
8 
17 
57 
28 
10 
133 
31 
20 
122 
37 
8 
59 
10 
82 
114 
15$ 
16 
23 
9 
21 
26 
26 
23 
23 
45 

67 
32 

2 
64 
20 
69 
49 

7 
18 


0 
12 
10 
64 
12 
65 
78 
22 
19 
57 
70 
10 
14 
83 
35 
15 

128 
17 
12 

150 
35 
8 
70 
25 

133 
39 
55 
18 
46 
8 
42 
20 
20 


83 
17 
165 
47 

7 
58 
10 
27 
15 

8 
71 
30 


II. — THE  ROANOKE  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  ROANOKE  RIVER. 

This  river  is  formed  by  the  confluence  of  the  Dan  and  Staunton  rivers,  in  Mecklenburg  county,  Virginia.  Thence 
flowing  southeast,  it  enters  North  Carolina  in  Warren  county,  and  forms  the  dividing  line  between  Halifax  and 
Martin  counties  on  its  right,  and  Northampton  and  Bertie  on  its  left,  emptying  into  Albemarle  sound  just  above 
Plymouth.  The  total  length  of  the  river  is  about  125  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  probably  nearly  twice  as  far  by 
the  river.  The  principal  towns  on  the  stream  are:  Clarksville,  Virginia  (just  below  the  junction  of  the  Dan  with 
the  Staunton),  Weldon,  Halifax,  Hamilton,  Williamston,  and  Plymouth,  North  Carolina.  The  stream  is  navigable 
at  low-water  to  Weldon  (some  120  miles),  or  can  be  made  so  for  boats  drawing  2  or  3  feet,  and  to  Hamilton  (GO 
miles)  for  boats  drawing  10  feet.  Boats  of  greater  draught  cannot  come  through  the  sound.  It  is  considered 
possible  to  get  a  low-water  navigation  of  5  feet  to  Weldon,*  the  principal  obstacles  to  navigation  being  snags, 


*  Annual  Reports  Chief  of  Engineers,  1872,  p.  726;  1879,  p.  624. 


687 


28 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


stumps,  and  sand-bars.  By  a  system  of  locks  and  dams  this  river,  with  the  Dan,  was  long  ago  made  navigable 
to  Danville,  more  than  twice  as  far  from  the  mouth  as  Weldon,  but  these  old  canal-works  have  been  long  in  disuse, 
although  the  company  which  built  them — the  Eoanoke  Navigation  Company — has  continued  in  existence  down 
to  the  present  time.  Although  Weldon  is  now  the  head  of  navigation,  yet  there  are  still  long  reaches  on  the 
Roanoke  and  on  the  Dan,  both  above  and  below  Danville,  which  are  boatable. 

The  total  area  drained  by  the  Eoanoke  river  comprises  about  9,200  square  miles,  of  which  the  Dan  drains  3,700, 
the  Staunton  3,450,  and  the  Roanoke  below  the  junction  2,050.  There  are  no  large  tributaries  of  the  Roanoke 
below  the  confluence  of  the  Dan  and  Staunton,  although  a  number  of  small  creeks  flow  into  it  from  both  sides. 

The  drainage-basin  of  the  Roanoke  proper  is  divided  into  two  nearly  equal  parts  by  the  fall-line,  which  crosses 
the  river  between  Weldon  and  Gaston,  North  Carolina.  That  part  of  the  water-shed  below  Weldon  is  low  and  flat, 
and  partakes  of  the  general  characteristics  of  the  eastern  division,  and  therefore  need  not  be  described  here  in 
great  detail.  Above  Weldon  the  country  is  more  broken  and  the  river  has  more  fall,  having  cut  its  bed  down  to 
the  underlying  metamorphic  rocks.  The  drainage-basin  is  long  and  narrow,  varying  in  width  from  10  to  30  miles, 
and  along  the  river  are  many  fine  bottoms,  among  which  are  some  of  the  best  farming-lands  in  the  vicinity.  The 
bottoms  widen  out  as  we  descend  the  river,  and  the  flood-plain  spreads  out  in  places  to  a  width  of  several  miles, 
and  finally  is  represented  by  the  broad  lowlands  and  cypress  swamps  of  the  eastern  division.  Alternating  with 
the  bottoms  are  bluffs,  especially  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  The  proportion  of  the  drainage-basin  covered 
with  forests  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.  The  soil  is  clay  and  loam,  with  sand  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
basin,  and  the  productions  are  tobacco,  corn,  wheat,  fruits,  and  vegetables.  Below  Weldon  the  country  is  heavily 
timbered,  and  large  quantities  of  timber  and  shingles  are  shipped.  It  is  said  that  between  15,000,000  and  20,000,000 
shingles  are  made  and  shipped  annually  from  this  region.  Above  Weldon  fine  building-stone  is  found  in  many 
places,  and  in  Granville,  Warren,  Edgecomb,  and  Wilson  counties,  North  Carolina,  a  fine  quality  of  granite  is 
quarried.  Near  Gaston  there  is  a  deposit  of  specular  iron -ore,  which  has  been  very  little  worked.  The  basin  is  thinly 
settled  above  Weldon,  and  the  river  is  quite  inaccessible,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  map.  The  Raleigh  and  Gaston 
railroad,  after  leaving  the  river  at  Gaston,  recedes  rapidly  from  it,  and  afterward  comes  nowhere  within  8  or  10 
miles  of  it;  while  on  the  north  the  nearest  railroads,  the  Richmond  and  Danville  and  the  Atlantic,  Mississippi 
and  Ohio,  are,  on  an  average,  35  miles  distant.  Before  the  war  Clarksville  had  railroad  connection  with  the 
Raleigh  and  Gaston  road,  and  was  a  thriving  tobacco  mart,  but  the  road  was  torn  up  during  the  war  to  repair  other 
roads,  and  has  never  been  rebuilt,*  in  consequence  of  which  the  town  has  decreased  considerably  in  population. 

The  average  rainfall  on  the  water-shed  of  the  Roanoke  above  the  fall-line  is  probably  40  or  42  inches,  varying 
from  38  or  39  on  the  upper  part  of  the  Staunton  to  44  inches  at  Gaston.  Of  this  amount  10  or  11  inches  fall  in 
spring,  about  10  inches  in  summer,  and  nearly  the  same  fn  autumn  and  winter.  Being  so  uniformly  distributed,  the 
flow  of  the  stream  may  be  expected  to  be  very  variable,  especially  as  in  all  probability  the  evaporation  is  quite  large ; 
and,  in  fact,  the  general  testimony  is  that  the  flow  of  the  stream  is  subject  to  very  large  variations.  . 

The  freshets  on  the  river  are  very  violent  and  the  fluctuations  often  occur  very  rapidly.  At  Weldon  an  ordinary 
freshet  gives  a  rise  of  12  or  15  feet;  but  generally  twice  in  the  year,  in  the  spring  and  in  the  fall,  there  is  a  larger 
freshet,  the  water  rising  25  to  30  feet.  In  1865  the  river  rose  50  feet  at  that  point,  and  30  feet  at  Hamilton.  For 
60  or  70  miles  below  Weldon  the  rise  is  from  20  to  50  feet,  but  it  gradually  diminishes  as  the  mouth  of  the  river  is 
approached,  and  for  the  last  15  or  20  miles  of  its  course  it  is  from  1  to  3  feet,  t  These  floods  occur  so  rapidly  that 
the  river  rises  sometimes  over  10  feet  in  a  day  at  Weldon,  f  and  of  course  they  overflow  the  banks  and  flood  large 
areas  of  the  adjoining  lands. 

There  are  no  lakes  or  artificial  reservoirs  anywhere  in  the  drainage-basin,  neither  are  there  facilities  for  storage 
on  the  Roanoke  proper;  but  on  the  upper  Dan  and  Staunton  reservoirs  might  doubtless  be  constructed  at  many 
points. 

The  bed  of  the  stream  is  generally  sand  below  Weldon,  with  one  or  two  ledges,  and  the  banks  are  alluvial,  not 
very  low  as  a  rule,  and  in  many  places  lined  with  overhanging  trees;  while  above  Weldon  the  bed  is  generally 
composed  of  solid  rock,  sometimes  of  gravel  and  sometimes  of  sand  or  clay,  the  banks  beiug  alternately  high  and 
sometimes  bluffy  and  low  and  alluvial.  Above  the  falls  at  Weldon,  which  extend  for  a  distance  of  10  miles  above 
that  place,  the  river  is  wide,  full  of  rocks  and  islands  in  many  places,  and  difficult  to  navigate  in  low-water,  with 
large  areas  of  bottom-land  subject  to  overflow  in  freshets,  although  the  rise  is  smaller  than  at  Weldon.  Some  of 
the  low  grounds  were  diked  before  the  war,  but  the  dikes  have  for  a  long  time  received  no  attention.  High  dams 
on  the  river  would,  in  general,  be  accompanied  by  the  overflowing  of  large  areas. 

*  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1880,  p.  803. 
t  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1872,  p.  726. 
t  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1876,  Appendix  G,  9. 
688  . 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  29 


The  following  table  will  give  some  idea  of  the  fall  of  the  stream : 

Table  of  declivity — Roanoke  river. 


Place. 

Distance 
from  mouth. 

Elevation 
above  tide. 

Dist.  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Miles. 

0 
120 
129 
185 

Feet. 

0 
44 
128 
269 

Miles. 

|-  -  -  -  120 
j.  .  .  .  9 
{-   -   -   -  56 

Feet. 

...  44 

-  -    •  84 

-  -    .  141 

Feet  per  mile. 

■  -  -  0.'3« 
...  9.3 
-   -   •  2.52 

In  the  twenty-second  report  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia  is  a  report  on  a  survey  of  the  Boanoke,  by 
J.  J.  Couty.  It  is  there  stated  that  the  fall  from  Eock  Landing,  in  North  Carolina,  to  the  confluence  of  the  Dan  and 
Staunton,  in  "Virginia,  is  156.65  feet,  the  distance  being  59.9  miles.  The  same  report  states  that  the  width  of  the  river 
is  considerable,  being  even  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  places,  but  on  the  average  about  400  yards,  and  that  the  bed 
is  mostly  of  solid  rock,  and  remarkably  favorable  for  dams. 

The  water-powers  on  the  stream  will  now  be  described  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  information  regarding 
them. 

The  water-power  at  Weldon,  North  Carolina. — The  first  power  on  the  river  as  it  is  ascended  is  that  at  Weldon, 
North  Carolina,  where  the  stream  crosses  the  fall-line.  The  fall  here  is  about  84  feet  in  a  distance  of  9  miles  above 
the  town,  the  river  within  this  distance  being  very  rocky  and  rapid,  the  channel  very  tortuous,  and  the  bed  of  the 
river  interspersed  with  rocks  and  islands,  most  of  which  are  submerged  at  high  water.  Some  of  the  larger  islands  are 
cultivated.  The  bed  of  the  river  is  almost  solid  rock,  and  the  banks  generally  abrupt,  especially  on  the  upper  part,- 
for  several  miles  below  the  head  of  the  falls,  where  they  are  40  or  50  feet  high,  of  hard  granitic  rock,  and  generally 
extending  almost  perpendicularly  to  the  water's  edge.  The  river  is  much  narrower  here  than  above  the  falls.  Some 
fifty  years  ago  the  Eoanoke  Navigation  Company  extended  navigation  around  these  falls  by  constructing  a  canal  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  between  Weldon  and  Eock  Landing,  9  miles  above.  This  canal  was  30  feet  wide  at  the 
top  and  3  feet  deep,  dimensions  sufficiently  large  for  the  boats  then  in  use  on  the  river.  The  enterprise  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  a  financial  success,  and,  although  the  company  is  still  in  existence,  the  works  have  long  been 
allowed  to  fall  into  disuse,  and  the  canal  is  very  much  filled  up  with  silt  and  rubbish,  being  only  kept  clean  to  an  extent 
sufficient  to  enable  it  to  supply  the  necessary  water  to  run  a  few  small  mills,  no  one  but  the  mill-owners  seeming  to 
take  any  interest  in  it.  It  was  originally  substantially  built,  and  crosses  several  small  creeks  by  means  of  stone 
aqueducts,  all  of  which,  as  well  as  some  of  the  locks,  which  were  also  of  stone,  are  in  good  condition,  although 
the  gates  of  the  latter  are  gone;  and  toward  the  upper  end  of  the  canal  there  are  extensive  masonry  walls  in  places  on 
the  river  side,  rendered  necessary  by  the  abruptness  of  the  banks,  and  all  in  good  condition.  At  the  upper  end  of 
the  canal  there  was  a  guard-lock,  and  probably  a  dam,  but  the  gates  of  the  lock  are  gone,  and  the  dam  now  there 
consists  only  of  a  few  stones  piled  up  roughly.  The  river  at  this  place  is  said  to  be  very  favorable  for  the  construction 
of  a  dam  which  might  extend  entirely  across  the  river. 

Nearly  four  miles  below  the  head  of  the  canal  is  a  flight  of  four  locks  with  a  total  lift  of  36  feet.*  The  fall  of 
the  upper  two  is  utilized  by  a  saw-  and  grist-mill  and  cotton-gin,  using  about  18  feet  fall,  25  horse-power,  and 
discharging  the  water  to  the  lower  level.  This  mill  can  run  at  full  capacity  all  the  time,  but  little  additional 
power  can  be  obtained  without  increasing  the  capacity  of  the  canal  above,  which  is  at  present  only  12  to  15  feet 
wide  and  3  or  4  feet  deep.  The  total  fall  of  these  locks,  36  feet,  is  practically  available  at  this  place,  and  the  land 
in  the  vicinity  is  favorable  for  building. 

At  the  lower  end  of  the  canal  a  fall  of  48  feet  between  the  level  of  the  canal  and  the  river  was  overcome  by  a 
flight  of  6  locks  with  8  feet  lift  each*  This  fall  is  used  by  two  mills  and  a  foundry ;  the  upper  one,  a  grist-  and  flour- 
mill  (two  run  of  stones)  and  two  cotton-gins,  uses  18  feet  fall  and  30  or  40  horse-power;  the  lower  one,  a  corn-  and  flour- 
mill  (six  run  of  stones),  uses  the  same  fall  and  70  or  80  horse  power,  and  the  foundry  uses  the  same  fall  and  some  15  or 
20  horse-power.  All  these  mills  discharge  the  water  directly  tb  the  river,  and  are  situated  from  100  to  200  yards 
above  the  old  locks,  which  are  in  bad  condition.  They  can  rua  full  capacity  all  the  year,  except  occasionally  for  ;l 
few  days  at  a  time,  when  they  have  to  stop  on  account  of  high  water.  Little  additional  power,  however,  can  be 
obtained  with  the  present  condition  of  the  canal.    There  is  scarcely  any  trouble  whatever  with  ice. 

Although  the  fall  between  the  level  of  the  canal  at  its  lower  end  aud  the  river  is  48  feet  at  low-water,  according 
to  the  report  of  the  company  the  freshets  of  the  river  are  so  frequent  and  so  violent  that  it  is  not  to  be  considered 
practically  available  for  manufacturing  unless  supplementary  steam-power  be  introduced.  Just  what  fall  may  be 
economically  used  depends  on  various  circumstances  which  cannot  be  considered  here.  The  land  is  favorable  for 
building  so  far  as  its  topography  is  concerned.  The  canal  is  at  present  somewhat  wider  on  the  lower  level  than  on 
the  upper,  but  is  shallower. 


*  Report  of  Roanoke  Navigation  Company  in  one  of  the  reports  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia. 
1012  w  P— VOL  16  44 


689 


30 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


As  already  mentioned,  the  canal  at  Weldon  is  owned  by  the  Eoanoke  Navigation  Company — a  stock  company, 
of  which  some  shares  are  said  to  be  owned  by  private  individuals  and  some  by  the  states  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina.  There  being  no  interest  taken  in  the  canal,  either  as  a  means  of  navigating  the  river  or  as  a  means  of 
supplying  water-power — it  being,  in  fact,  practically  abandoned — the  mills  pay  no  rent  for  their  water-power.  It  is 
said,  however,  that  many  years  ago  some  water-power  was  let  at  a  certain  rate  per  runof  stone. 

In  addition  to  the  power  which  is  utilized  along  the  canal  there  is  a  small  amount  of  power  used  between  Weldon 
and  Gaston  by  mills  located  directly  on  the  river.  Thus,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  there  is  a  grist-mill  with  a 
fall  of  about  7  or  8  feet,  running  two  or  three  run  of  stones,  and  there  have  been  others,  at  various  times,  on  both  sides 
of  the  river.  On  the  south  side  there  was  a  grist-mill,  about  1  mile  below  South  Gaston,  said  to  have  had  a  fall  of 
15  feet,  with  a  race  one-half  mile  long.    These  mills  are,  of  course,  liable  to  be  stopped  often  during  freshets. 

The  total  drainage  area  of  the  Roanoke  above  Gaston,  or  the  head  of  the  falls,  is  about  8,200  square  miles,  and 
the  rainfall  over  this  area  is  about  40  or  42  inches,  distributed  tolerably  evenly  throughout  the  year.  I  found  no 
records  of  continued  gaugings  of  the  river.  Professor  Kerr  measured  the  flow  at  Haskins'  Ferry,  over  50  miles  above 
Weldon,  in  the  fall,  and  found  it  to  be  2,950  cubic  feet  per  second,  the  drainage  area  above  this  point  being  about 
7,350  square  miles,  but  the  stage  of  the  river  is  not  stated.*  I  have  estimated  the  flow  of  the  river  at  Gaston  to  be  as 
follows  (see  pages  18  to  21)  : 

Cubic  feet  per  second. 

Minimum  flow   1,500 

Minimum  low-season  flow  1,700 

Maximum  available,  with  storage   6, 000 

Low-season  flow,  dry  years  .•   1,950 

The  corresponding  power  may  be  tabulated  as  follows : 


Flow,  cubic  feet  per  second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

1  foot  fall. 

36  feet  fall. 

18  feet  fall. 

84  feet  fall. 

1,500  .'  

170 
193 
680 
221 

6,120 
6,948 
24, 480 
7,  956 

3, 060 
3,474 
12, 240 
3,978 

14,280 
16, 212 
57, 120 
18, 564 

1,700    

1,950  1  

If  the  water  could  be  stored  during  the  night,  so  as  to  concentrate  the  total  available  power  into  12  hours,  the 
powers  given  in  the  table  above  would  all  be  doubled,  but  it  would  probably  be  found  very  difficult  and  expensive, 
if  not  impossible,  to  do  this.  The  estimates  I  have  given  may  seem  too  low,  but  I  have  been  especially  anxious  to 
avoid  making  them  too  high,  and  I  believe  that  they  will  be  found  rather  under  than  over  the  truth.  This  enormous 
power,  almost  totally  unutilized,  is  available,  although  it  would  be  very  expensive  to  utilize  the  whole  of  it.  The 
existing  canal,  if  cleaned  out  to  its  original  dimensions,  would  be  capable  of  carrying  about  120  cubic  feet  per  second, 
with  a  fall  of  a  foot  to  the  mile,  and  by  making  the  channel  very  smooth  it  might  carry  250  to  300  cubic  feet  per  second 
with  the  same  dimensions.  To  enlarge  the  canal  to  the  dimensions  necessary  to  enable  it  to  carry  1,500  cubic  feet 
per  second  would,  especially  in  the' upper  part,  be  very  expensive,  and  necessitate  considerable  blasting.  The  power 
which  would  be  rendered  available  if  the  canal  were  cleaned  out  to  its  original  dimensions  is  shown  by  the  following 
table,  the  fall  assumed  being  one  foot  to  the  mile.  The  capacity  may  be  taken  to  vary  between  120  and  250  cubic 
feet  per  second,  according  to  the  condition  of  the  bed  : 


Table  showing  available  power  at  Weldon  with  existing  canal. 


Capacity  of  canal,  cubic  feet  per  second. 
 :  .  «  

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

1  foot  fall. 

36  feet  fall. 

18  feet  fall. 

84  feet  fall. 

13.64 
28.41 

491.0 

1.  022.  8 

245.5 
511.4 

1, 145. 8 
2,  386. 4 

250  

'  1 

The  power  is  calculated  for  the  same  fall  as  before,  because  the  fall  of  the  canal  itself  could  be  given  by  a  clam 
at  its  head.  It  must  be  expressly  remarked  that  if  the  capacity  of  the  canal  is  to  be  made  250  cubic  feet  per  second, 
the  bed  and  slopes  must  be  made  very  smooth,  indeed,  by  being  cemented  or  lined  with  boards  carefully  fitted  to  each 
other,  and  with  great  care  the  capacity  might,  perhaps,  be  increased  above  250  cubic  feet  per  second.  If  the  fall  is 
made  2  feet  per  mile,  the  available  powers  would  be  nearly  1.4  times  as  great  as  those  given  in  the  above  table. 
By  deepening  the  canal  its  capacity  might  be  considerably  increased  at  small  cost. 


*  Maury  (Survey  of  Virginia,  pp.  36,  37,)  says  that  tho  flow  of  the  Eoanoke  at  head  of  tide- water  in  dry  seasons  is  estimated  at  1,350 
cubic  feet  per  second. 
600 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


31 


The  powers  given  in  the  above  table  could  be  rendered  available  without  much  difficulty,  but  it  must  be 
remembered  that  all  the  power  calculated  thus  far  is  the  gross  horse-power,  and  that  the  amount  to  be  practically 
utilized  would  be  less,  varying  according  to  the  motor  employed.  With  good  turbine-wheels  the  net  power  will  be 
about  three-quarters  or  eight-tenths  of  the  gross  power. 

The  power  at  Weldon  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  state  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  principal  cause  of  its  not 
being  utilized  to  a  greater  extent  is  probably  the  lack  of  capital.  It  is  said  that  the  place  is  not  very  healthy, 
and  that  malaria  and  chills  and  fever  are  prevalent  at  certain  seasons.  It  is  certain  that  it  is  not  so  healthy  as  the 
country  farther  west,  but  I  doubt  whether  this  would  be  a  sufficient  ground  to  prevent  the  utilization  of  such  a 
magnificent  power.  The  facilities  for  transport  are  excellent,  both  by  land  and  by  water,  for  the  river  can  bo  made 
navigable  up  to  the  town,  and  it  is  quite  a  railroad  center.  Four  railroads  terminate  in  the  town,  viz,  the  Petersburg 
railroad,  the  Seaboard  and  Eoanoke  railroad,  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  railroad,  and  the  Ealeigh  and  Gaston 
railroad,  thus  bringing  Weldon  within  2h  hours  of  Petersburg,  3}  hours  of  Richmond  and  Portsmouth,  6  hours  of 
Wilmington,  and  5  hours  of  Ealeigh. 

Good  building-stone  and  timber  can  be  obtained  in  abundance  in  the  neighborhood,  and  a  good  deal  of  cotton 
is  raised  in  the  vicinity.  The  iron  deposits  near  Gaston  have  only  been  worked  to  a  very  small  extent,  although  the 
ore  is  said  to  be  of  good  quality.  The  advantages  for  the  utilization  of  the  power  are  in  fact  excellent  in  all  respects, 
and  that  there  are  no  serious  drawbacks  is  proved  conclusively  by  the  successful  operation  of  Mr.  Battle's  cotton 
factory  at  Eocky  Mount,  on  the  Tar  river,  only  a  few  miles  distant.  The  place  is  worthy  of  a  careful  examination 
by  capitalists. 

Above  Gaston  the  river  widens,  and  there  are  no  other  powers  at  all  comparable  with  the  one  just  described, 
although  there  are  some  shoals  which  might  advantageously  be  utilized,  alternating  with  long  boatable  stretches 
of  smooth  water.  In  regard  to  these  shoals,  however,  I  was  only  able  to  obtain  a  few  scattered  notes,  and  on 
account  of  their  inaccessibility  I%was  unable  to  visit  any  of  them. 

Four  miles  above  Eock  Landing,  the  head  of  the  Weldon  canal,  is  a  shoal,  around  which  the  Navigation 
Company  constructed  a  canal  400  yards  long,  with  a  lock  at  the  lower  end  having  a  lift  of  9  feet.  The  fall  at  this 
shoal  is  said  to  be  utilized,  to  a  small  extent,  by  a  grist-mill. 

Two  miles  further  up  there  is  a  second  mill,  and  above  that  are  several  others,  tabulated  in  the  table  of  utilized 
power.  The  available  fall,  however,  I  am  unable  to  state.  The  only  other  place  on  the  river  where  the  Navigation 
Company  found  it  necessary  to  construct  a  canal  was  at  Pugh's  falls,  where  there  was  one  lock  with  5£  feet  lift,* 
but  I  am  unable  to  say  just  where  this  place  is  located;  I  am  also  unable  to  give  any  information  regarding  the 
present  condition  of  these  canals,  but  the  probability  is  that  they  are  in  very  bad  order. 

The  principal  reason  why  these  shoals  have  not  been  used  more  extensively  is  probably  the  fact  that  the  river 
is  wide,  so  that  the  dams  necessary  are  long  and  expensive  and  subject  to  injury  by  the  freshets.  Of  necessity, 
therefore,  mills  have  usually  been  located  on  smaller  streams. 

Finally,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  say  a  few  words  regarding  the  causes  of  the  low  flow  of  the  Eoanoke 
(estimated),  as  compared  with  that  of  streams  in  New  England.  These  causes  are  probably  the  following :  (1)  The 
rainfall  on  the  drainage-basin  is  not  greater,  and  probably  rather  less,  than  on  the  basins  of  New  England  streams; 
{2)  it  is,  on  the  whole,  tolerably  uniformly  distributed  throughout  the  year,  but  on  some  parts  of  the  Dan  and 
Staunton  rather  more  falls  in  winter  than  in  summer ;  hence,  as  the  evaporation  is  very  large,  the  streams  will  be 
very  low  in  summer,  when  the  evaporation  is  greatest  and  the  rainfall  least ;  (3)  there  are  no  lakes  to  regulate  the 
flow. 

As  regards  the  estimate  which  I  have  given  for  the  power  available  at  Weldon,  with  storage,  it  is  to  be  remarked 
that  to  render  this  power  available  would  require  the  construction  of  storage-reservoirs  sufficient  to  store  a  rainfall 
of  perhaps  3  inches  on  the  whole  water-shed,  which  would  correspond  to  a  storage  capacity  of  over  57,000  millions 
cubic  feet.  Such  storage  would  be  very  expensive,  so  that,  for  the  present  at  least,  the  estimate  of  power  from 
storage  has  little  interest  practically. 

TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  ROANOKE  RIVER  BELOW  THE  JUNCTION  OF  THE  DAN  AND  THE  STAUNTON  RIVERS. 

In  regard  to  these  streams  very  little  is  to  be  said.  None  of  them  are  of  any  importance,  and  possess  no  large 
water-powers,  so  far  as  I  could  learn.  The  only  power  used  on  them  is  for  running  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  the 
grist-mills  generally  with  one,  two,  or  three  run  of  stones.  I  visited  none  of  these  streams,  aud  the  tables  of  the 
power  utilized  on  them,  compiled  from  the  reports  of  the  enumerators,  will  show  that  they  are  not  of  much 
consequence.  For  small  powers  they  can  be  economically  utilized — more  economically  than  the  Eoanoke  itself — 
because  they  have  more  fall,  because  the  cost  of  a  permanent  dam  is  less,  and  because  the  mills  are  not  troubled 
with  high  water,  as  those  on  the  Eoanoke  are;  but  their  flow  is,  of  course,  much  more  variable  than  that  of  the 
Eoanoke. 

'Report  of  Roanoke  Navigation  Company  in  one  of  the  reports  of  the  Virginia  board  of  public  works. 

691 


32 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


THE  DAN  EIVEE. 

The  Dan  river,  one  of  the  main  forks  of  the  Roanoke,  rises  in  Patrick  county,  Virginia,  near  Buffalo  Knob,  in 
the  Blue  Ridge.  It  flows  first  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  enters  North  Carolina,  flows  through  Stokes  and 
Bockingham  counties,  and,  pursuing  a  general  easterly  course,  enters  Virginia  in  Pittsylvania,  returns  to  North 
Carolina  in  Caswell,  and  finally  enters  Virginia  again  in  Halifax,  to  unite  with  the  Staunton  in  the  adjoining  county 
of  Mecklenburg,  forming  the  Roanoke.  The  length  of  the  stream,  measured  in  a  straight  line  nearly  east  and  west, 
is  about  100  miles,  and  by  the  course  of  the  river  about  180  miles.  The  principal  towns  on  the  river  are  Danbury, 
Madison,  and  Leaksville,  North  Carolina  (all  small  towns  of  several  hundred  inhabitants);  Danville,  Virginia, 
with  a  population  of  over  13,000;  Milton,  North  Carolina,  and  South  Boston,  Virginia,  with  five  or  six  hundred 
inhabitants  each. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  the  river  was  many  years  ago  made  navigable  by  the  Roanoke  Navigation  Company 
as  far  as  Danville,  and  for  50  or  GO  miles  beyond.  It  is  now  navigable  for  GO  miles  above  that  place  (as  far  as 
Sauratown)  for  bateaux  carrying  12,000  pounds,  although  formerly  bateaux  sometimes  reached  Hairston's  falls,  12 
miles  below  Danbury.  Boats  propelled  by  poles  now  ply  irregularly  between  Danville  and  various  other  points  on 
the  river. 

The  river  and  harbor  act  of  June  18,  1878,  provided  for  a  survey  of  the  river  from  Clarksville,  Virginia,  to 
Danbury,  North  Carolina,  and  the  reports  on  this  survey  by  Mr.  S.  T.  Abert,  United  States  civil  engineer,  are  to  be 
found  in  the  reports  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  652,  and  1880,  p.  794.  These  reports  give  detailed  information 
regarding  the  river,  and  have  been  used  freely  in  the  present  report.  By  the  river  and  harbor  act  of  June  14, 1880, 
the  sum  of  $10,000  was  appropriated  for  the  improvement  of  the  river  between  Madison,  North  Carolina,  and 
Danville,  Virginia,  "the  object  being  to  afford  a  channel  for  steam  navigation  not  less  than  35  feet  wide,  and  hot 
less  than  1£  feet  deep  in  the  pools  and  2  feet  deep  in  the  rapids  at  extreme  low- water,"  the  estimated  cost  of  the 
work  being  $52,000.  # 

The  total  area  drained  by  the  Dan  is  3,700  square  miles.  The  tables  on  pages  34,  35,  37,  and  38  give  the 
drainage  areas  above  the  principal  water  powers. 

The  principal  tributaries  to  the  river  are,  from  the  north,  going  up  the  river,  Bannister  river,  Birch  creek,  Sandy 
river,  Smith's  river,  and  Mayo  river;  from  the  south,  going  up,  Hyco  river,  County- line  creek,  Moon's  creek, 
Hogan's  creek,  and  Town  fork.    These  will  be  referred  to  again. 

The  drainage  area  of  the  Dan  lies  principally  in  the  middle  division,  the  sources  of  the  river  being  on  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Its  general  character  does  not  differ,  as  a  whole,  from  that  of  the  middle  division,  which 
has  been  described  on  a  previous  page.  Its  shape  and  dimensions  may  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  accompanying 
map.  Geologically,  it  lies  in  the  area  of  metamorphic  rocks.  Granite  is  found  at  various  points ;  also  sandstone, 
limestone,  and  slate,  and  fine  building-stone  is  to  be  had  in  abundance.  The  valley  is  rich  in  coal  and  iron,  extensive 
beds  of  iron-ore,  which  have  been  worked  to  some  extent  for  more  than  half  a  century,*  occurring  near  Danbury, 
North  Carolina.  The  coal-fields  embrace  an  area  of  over  30  square  miles,  and  have  been  developed  only  to  a  very 
small  extent.  Lying  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  extensive  iron-beds,  their  importance  cannot  be  overestimated,  t 
Copper  also  has  been  found  in  the  valley. 

The  water-shed  separating  the  valley  of  the  Dan  from  those  of  the  Yadkin  and  Cape  Fear  is  a  "  long  and  broad 
ridge  or  swell  of  land,  which  trends  due  east",  with  an  elevation  of  800  feet  and  upward.  The  bed  of  the  river  is 
generally  200  or  300,  and  sometimes  400,  feet  below  the  adjacent  ridges,  and  its  tributaries  have,  therefore,  very 
considerable  fall,  some  of  them  affording  very  fine  water-power. 

The  principal  products  of  the  valley  are  tobacco,  corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  potatoes,  and  fruits.  There  is  very 
little,  if  any,  cotton  grown  in  the  valley.  "  Between  Danbury  and  Leaksville  the  land  appears  to  be  best  adapted 
to  tobacco  culture,  and  a  fine  grade  is  produced,  although  there  are  some  short  stretches  of  very  good  bottom-land. 
Further  down,  the  valley  widens,  and  broad  bottoms  are  found  cultivated  in  corn  and  wheat."  The  country  is  hilly 
and  undulating,  and  in  the  extreme  west  mountainous.    The  forests  above  Danville  are  extensive  and  valuable. 

There  are  no  lakes  in  the  basin,  but  artificial  storage-reservoirs  could  probably  be  located  at  many  points. 

The  bed  of  the  river  is  solid  rock,  overlaid  between  the  rapids  with  sand  and  gravel.  The  facilities  for  dams 
are  excellent.  Above  Danville  the  banks  are  generally  moderately  high,  and  sometimes  abrupt  and  bluffy,  and  the 
bottoms  narrow  and  not  often  overflowed.  Below  Danville  the  banks  are  lower,  the  bottoms  wider,  and  oftener 
overflowed,  and  bluffs  more  rare.  There  are  no  regular  ravines  of  any  extent,  a  bluff  on  one  side  of  the  river 
being  generally  faced  by  shelving  or  low  ground  on  the  other. 

The  river  is  subject  to  heavy  floods,  the  river  rising  and  falling  very  rapidly.  At  Madison,  in  1850,  it 
rose  28.4  feet;  and  at  Danville,  in  1873,  17  feet  above  ordinary  low  water.  Below  Danville  the  floods  rise  still 
higher.  Thus,  in  November,  1877,  the  river  rose  to  heights  of  30.21  feet  above  low  water  at  Milton;  33.54  feet  at 
Oliver's  mill,  28  miles  below  Danville;  and  23.7  feet  at  Clarksville.  Such  rises  are,  however,  very  rare.  There  is 
seldom  any  trouble  with  ice,  and  ice-jams  occur  very  seldom,  although  the  river  is  sometimes  frozen  over. 
"  Notwithstanding  the  height  of  the  floods,  the  banks  are  seldom  washed,  their  permanency  being  secured  by  a  fringe 
of  willow-growth,  which  borders  the  low  grounds." 

*  Annual  Report  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  654.  t  Dr.  Genth  (see  above  source). 

692 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


33 


The  Dan  ami  Staunton  rivers,  being  comparatively  not  so  wide  or  shallow  as  the  Roanoke,  and  having  fewer 
bottoms  subject  to  overflow,  are  considered  more  favorable  for  navigation  than  the  latter  stream. 

The  average  annual  rainfall  on  the  valley  of  the  Dan  is  about  43  inches,  distributed  approximately  as  follows  : 
Spring,  11 ;  summer,  12 ;  autumn,  10 ;  winter,  10.  Iu  the  upper  parts  of  the  valley  the  rainfall  is  as  follows : 
Spring,  12;  summer,  14;  autumn,  10;  winter,  11  inches.  The  following  table  will  show  the  declivity  of  the 
stream : 

Table  of  declivity — Ban  river. 


Place. 


Clarksville  

Danville,  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad-crossing* . 


Madison  bridge  . 

Hairston's  ford . 
Danbury  ford . . . 


Distance 
from  mouth. 

Elevation 
above  tide. 

Dist.  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Miles. 

0.  00 
64.27 

114. 37 

129.  31 
142.  76 

Feet. 

209 
390 

547 

599 
695 

Miles. 

}  -  "  "  6127 
j  -  -  -  50. 10 

|  14.94 

|  13.45 

Feet. 

121 
157 
52 
95 

Feet  per  mile. 

1.  88 
3. 13 
3.  49 
7.  26 

*  For  the  elevations  on  the  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad  I  am  indebted  to  T.  M.  H.  Talcott,  general  manager,  who  had  special  measurements  made  of  tho 
height  of  the  track  above  the  water-aurface. 

Having  no  records  of  gaugings  of  the  Dan  river,  I  am  obliged  to  resort  to  estimates  of  the  flow.  The  following 
estimates  are  for  the  mouth  of  the  stream : 


Table  of  estimated  flow  arid  power  of  the  Ban  Biver  at  mouth. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  .. 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . 


The  Dan  river  has  been  thus  far  not  very  accessible  above  Danville.  Below  that  point  the  Richmond  and 
Danville  railroad  is  within  4  miles  of  the  stream  for  about  50  miles,  after  which  it  leaves  the  river  nearly  at  right 
angles.  Above  Danville  the  river  is  for  about  30  miles  within  6  miles  of  the  railroad,  but  above  that  it  has  been 
quite  inaccessible.  Thus  the  part  of  the  stream  which  is  easily  accessible  is  between  the  mouth  of  the  Bannister 
river  and  the  town  of  Leaksville.  Two  railroads  are  now  being  built,  however,  which  will  render  that  part  of  the 
river  above  Danville  as  accessible  as  that  below,  and  will  do  a  great  deal  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  valley 
(see  page  30). 

Water-poweks.— It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  average  fall  of  the  Dan  between  Clarksville  and  the 
Richmond  and  Danville  railroad  bridge  is  1.88  feet  per  mile.  This  fall  is,  however,  not  evenly  distributed  over  the 
whole  distance,  but  is  mainly  concentrated  at  a  few  localities,  thus  affording  fine  opportunities  for  developing  large 
water-powers. 

In  the  table  below  is  given  each  shoal  on  the  river,  but  as  some  are  of  no  importance,  and  their  fall  is  very 
small,  I  do  not  consider  it  worth  while  to  make  mention  of  them  particularly.  I  shall  therefore  mention  in  this 
place  only  the  larger  shoals,  giving  such  of  their  characteristics  as  I  have  l  een  able  to  gather  from  the  reports  of 
surveys  made  under  direction  of  Mr.  Abert.  The  falls  given  in  the  table  are  those  of  the  shoals  opposite  which 
they  are  placed,  and  the  distance  of  whose  foot,  from  Clarksville,  is  given  in  the  second  column. 

Proceeding  up  the  river  from  Clarksville,  the  first  shoal  encountered  is  SJcipvrifh's  shoal,  one  fourth  of  a  mile 
above  the  town.    Length  of  shoal,  6,660  feet ;  fall,  2.621  feet ;  rock  bottom.    Not  utilized. 

For  the  next  4  miles  the  fall  is  very  gentle,  and  at  one  place  the  Staunton  river  is  only  500  feet  distant,  a 
portion  of  the  water  of  the  Dan  flowing  over  through  what  is  called  Skipwith's  Thoroughfare  to  join  the  Staunton. 
About  5  miles  from  Clarksville  is  Nelson's  shoal,  a  little  over  a  mile  long,  with  a  fall  of  2.216  feet;  rock  bottom; 
not  used ;  river  full  of  rocks,  many  appearing  above  the  surface. 

About  7£  miles  above  Clarksville  is  another  channel,  between  the  Dan  and  the  Staunton,  about  120  feet  wide, 
one-half  a  mile  long,  and  known  as  the  Upper  Thoroughfare.  From  this  point  down  to  their  confluence  the  two 
rivers  arc  nowhere  more  than  three-fourths'  of  a  mile  apart.  Just  above  this  thoroughfare  commences  Marblcyard 
xhoal,  8,319  feet  long;  fall,  4.665  feet  ;  rook  bottom  ;  not  used. 

093 


Drainage 
area. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power 
available, 
gross. 


Fq.  miles.  Gubie  feet. 
3, 700  700 
3, 700  810 


3,  700 
3,  700 


3,  000 
.950 


Per  footfall. 

80 
92 
341 
108 


34 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  next  skoal  of  importance  is  Little  Hyco  falls,  a  very  dangerous  shoal  for  boats,  and  one  which  is  ascended 
with  difficulty.  The  most  important  shoal  on  this  part  of  the  river  is  Big  Hyco  falls,  13  miles  above  Clarksville. 
The  bed  of  the  stream  consists  of  a  series  of  rock  ledges  and  projecting  rocks,  over  which  the  water  rushes  swiftly. 
I  did  not  visit  this  place  in  person,  but  I  was  informed  that  the  bank  on  one  side  is  bluffy,  while  on  the  other  a 
canal  could  easily  be  led  out,  if  necessary.  Then  follow  a  series  of  smaller  shoals.  King's  shoal  is  utilized  for  a 
small  grist-mill,  with  an  undershot  wheel  and  a  wing-dam,  and  Moon's  shoal  was  formerly  so  used.  It  is  noticeable 
that  there  are  several  steam  saw-mills  in  this  vicinity. 

The  Yellow  Gravel  shoal  is  used  for  power,  running  a  grist-mill  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  which  is  here 
divided  by  an  island  3,300  feet  long  into  two  channels  of  nearly  equal  width.  From  the  head  of  the  island  a  dam 
extends  diagonally  across  the  left  channel,  having  a  length  of  600  feet,  and  serving  to  turn  the  water  into  the  right 
channel,  on  which  the  mill  is  situated,  some  2,200  feet  below,  with  a  second  dam  5.8  feet  high  across  this  channel. 
Nine-tenths  of  the  volume  of  the  river,  however,  pours  through  a  sluice  in  the  dam  at  the  head  of  the  island.  The 
mill  is  driven  by  a  6-foot  turbine-wheel,  operating  3  run  of  stones,  or  using  perhaps  40  net  horse-power.*  The  river 
bottom  at  this  shoal  is  generally  gravel,  with  some  rock.  For  over  7  miles  above  this  place  there  is  no  shoal  of 
importance,  the  next  being  Reedy  Bottom  shoal — a  long  shoal,  with  a  pretty  uniform  slope,  and  generally  a  rock 
bottom. 

At  GoldwelVs  shoal  is  one  of  the  dams  built  by  the  Roanoke  Navigation  Company,  but  the  fall  is  not  of  importance. 
There  are  several  saw-mills  on  the  river  between  this  shoal  and  the  previous  one,  but  none  of  importance. 

The  next  shoal  of  importance  is  the  Milton  shoal.  The  fall  is  moderate  in  the  upper  4,100  feet,  but  for  the 
remainder  of  the  length  very  rapid,  and  the  river  is  full  of  islands  and  rocks.  Below  the  shoal  the  river  is  only  120 
feet  wide  for  a  distance  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile. 

The  next  shoal  of  importance  is  the  Danville  shoal,  just  below  the  Eichmoud  and  Danville  railroad-bridge,  and 
nothing  more  than  a  continuation,  with  a  less  rapid  fall,  of  Danville  falls,  yet  to  be  described.  The  bottom  is  wholly 
rock. 

In  regard  to  the  amount  of  power  which  can  be  utilized  on  the  river  between  Danville  and  Clarksville,  an 
opinion  could  only  be  formed  by  a  personal  examination.  From  what  has  been  said,  it  is  clear  that  there  would  be 
no  difficulty  in  building  dams  almost  anywhere,  so  far  as  the  bed  of  the  stream  is  concerned,  and  the  banks  are 
much  more  favorable  than  on  the  Eoanoke ;  but  whether  much  of  the  fall  is  available  for  power,  at  reasonable  cost,  I 
cannot  say.  In  the  table  are  given  estimates  of  the  power  at  only  a  few  points,  but  at  the  end  are  added  estimates 
of  the  total  theoretical  powers  between  those  particular  points,  but  which  are,  probably,  not  practically  available. 
The  powers  given  for  the  separate  shoals  are  for  the  natural  fall  in  the  river  at  each  shoal,  and  may,  of  course,  be 
increased  if  that  fall  is  increased  by  a  dam. 

Summary  of  power,  etc.,  of  the  Dan  River  between  Clarksville  and  Danville. 


Locality. 


Skipwith's  sboal  

Kelson's  sboal  

Jericho  sboal  

Marbleyard  sboal . . . 

Hog  island  sboal  

Island  creek  sboal . . 

Bagby's  shoal  

Hyco  shoal  

Little  Hyco  falls  

Big  Hyco  falls   

King's  shoal  

Grassy  creek  sboal. . 

Moon's  shoal  

Boston  shoal  

Yellow  Gravel  shoal 

Chappell's  fish-trap. 

Lawson's  shoal  

Reedy  Bottom  shoal 


Miles. 
0.23 
5. 18 
7.  00 
7. 71 
9. 48 
9.93 
10.65 
11.23 
12.09 
12.82 
14.  69 

17.61 
19.  93 
23. 15 
28.20 

32. 08 
33.  08 
34.20 


Rainfall. 


Sq.  miles. 
3, 700 
3, 700 
3, 700 
3,  690 
*3,  680 
*3,  670 
*3,  610 
*3,  600 
*3,  600 
3, 190 
*3, 180 

*2,  670 
*2,  050 
*2,  620 
*2,  580 

*2,  540 
*2, 520 
2, 485 


12  1  10 
12  !  10 


1  Interpolated. 


In. 
43 
43 
43 
•  43 
43 
43 
43 
43 
43 
43 
43 

43 
45 
45 
45 

45 
45 
45 


Total  faU. 


Horse-power  available,  gross. t 


Feet. 
2.621 
2.216 

0.  905 
4.665 

1.  261 
2.390 
0.  771 
1.957 
3. 100 
9.382 
2.670 

1.478 
2. 331 
2. 131 
3.644 

0.980 
1. 087 
5.223 


Feet. 
6,  660 
5,  565 

1,  2io 

8,319 
882 
3,  294 
1,854 

3,  560 
1,510 
3, 153 
4, 482 

2, 926 
1,406 

2,  858 

4,  068 

280 
2,  886 
11,  338 


210 


375 


240 
610 


190 


265 


S  2 

a  <o 


240 


425 


275 
750 


230 


330 


890 


1,  575 


1,  075 
3,  000 


590 


1,250 


CO  >~t 


280 


500 


315 
850 


265 


365 


Total  util- 
ized. 


Feet. 


20 


15 


Remarks. 


Rock  bed. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

Rock  and  gravel 
bed. 

Rock  bed. 

Do. 

Do. 

Drift,  rock,  and 
gravel  bed. 

Fish  dam. 

Drift  and  sand  bed 

Rock,  gravel  and 
sand  bed. 


t  See  pages  18  to  21. 


*  The  flow  of  the  stream  was  measured  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Gill,  U.  S. 
to  be  990  cubic  feet  per  second. 
694 


assistant  engineer,  just  below  this  place,  "at  low-water,"  and  found 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER- SHED. 
Summary  of  power,  etc.,  of  Dan  River — Continued. 


35 


Locality. 


Powell's  shoal  

Coldwell's  shoal  

Milton  shoal  

Dodson's  shoal  

Crowder's  shoal  

Rattlesnake  shoal  

"Wilkinson's  shoal  

Pass'  shoal  

Dix's  shoal  

Noble's  shoal  

Allen's  shoal  

Jack  Bar  shoal  

"Wilson's  island  shoal  

Danville  shoal  

Richmond  and  Danville  railroad 
bridge. 

Between  head  of  Skipwith's  shoal. 

and  foot  of  Marbleyard  shoal  

Between  head  of  Marbleyard  shoal 

and  foot  of  Little  Hyco  shoal  

Between  head  of  Big  Hyco  shoal. . 

and  foot  of  Yellow  Gravel  shoal. 
Between  head  of  Yellow  Gravel  shoal 

and  foot  of  Reedy  Bottom  shoal. . 
Between  head  of  Reedy  Bottom  shoal 

and  foot  of  Milton  shoal  

Between  head  of  Milton  shoal  

and  foot  of  Danville  shoal  

Total  on  Dan  river  np  to  head  of 

Danville  shoal. 


Miles. 
37.77 
43.52 
50.05 
51.61 
54.95 
55.78 
58.41 
58.80 
59.27 
60. 38 
61.28 
62.09 
62. 27 
62.69 
64.27 

1. 49 
7.71 
9.29 
12.09 
13.42 
28.  20 
28.96 
34.20 
36.34 
50.  05 
51. 36 
62.  69 

>64.04 


Sq.  miles. 
*2, 460 
*2,  420 
2,286 
*2, 270 
*2,240 
*2, 230 
*2, 200 
*2, 140 
*2, 130 
*2, 010 
*2,  000 
*1,990 
*1,990 
1,989 
1,989 

3,700 
3,690 
3,690 
3,600 
3,190 
2,580 
2,580 
2,485 
2,485 
2,286 
2,286 
1,  989 
(  3,700} 
(  1,989  ? 


Rainfall. 


In. 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
47 
47 
47 
47 

43 

43 

45 

45 
45 
45 
43 


Total  fall. 


Feet. 
1.241 
1.  646 
7.138 
2.384 
1.379 
1.174 
0.979 
0.679 
L714 
2.173 
0.665 
1.890 
2.185 

10.668 


6.452 
7.272 

15. 274 
6.076 
14.735 
24. 117 
120. 806 


i 


Feet. 
4,478 
2,738 
6,898 
1, 204 
3,290 
3,202 
720 
700 
282 
2, 052 
884 
854 
2,280 
8,375 


Miles. 
6.22 

2.80 

14.78 

5.24 
13.71 
11.33 
64.04 


Horse-power  available,  gross,  t 


330 


430 


515 

565 

820 
315 
720 
1,  050 
6,  635 


400 


500 


590 
650 

990 
385 
880 
1,280 
7,915 


1,600 


2,100 


2,200 
2,550 

3,950 
1,  500 
3,500 
5,150 
31,  290 


460 


570 


675 
740 

1, 130 
440 
1,  000 
1,460 
9,050 


Total  util- 
ized. 


Feet. 


Remarks. 


Rock  and  sand. 
Gravel  and  rock. 
Rock. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
GraveL 
Rock. 

Do. 
GraveL 
Book. 

Do. 


♦Interpolated.  t  See  pages  18  to  21. 

The  next  power  above  the  Danville  shoal  is  at  Danville  falls,  at  the  city  of  Danville,  Virginia.  The  total  fall 
here  is  21.977  feet,  in  a  distance  of  7,425  feet,  between  the  Eichmond  and  Danville  railroad-bridge  and  a  point  2,000 
feet  above  the  existing  dam.  The  town  of  Danville  is  situated  ou  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  on  the  opposite 
side  is  the  village  of  North  Danville.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  of  solid  rock,  covered  in  places  with  sand  and 
gravel,  and  the  banks  are  shelving  on  the  south  side,  offering  good  building-sites,  while  on  the  north  side  they  are 
more  abrupt  and  less  favorable ;  and  along  this  bank  runs,  for  a  short  distance,  the  Virginia  Midland  railroad,  which 
terminates  at  the  Eichmond  and  Danville  railroad-bridge.  Around  these  falls  the  Eoanoke  Navigation  Company 
constructed  a  canal,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  about  3,200  feet  long,  30  feet  wide,  and  probably  originally 
about  3  feet  deep,  with  three  locks  at  the  lower  end,  having  a  total  lift  of  20J  feet,  and  a  guard-lock  at  the  head 
with  a  lift  of  7  feet.*  The  locks  are  out  of  repair,  and  no  attempt  is  made  to  keep  them  in  order,  this  canal  having 
passed  into  the  hands  of  private  individuals,  and  being  used  only  to  supply  water-power.  It  is  said  that  none  of 
the  canals  on  the  Eoanoke  or  Dan  rivers,  except  the  one  at  Weldon,  are  now  owned  by  the  Navigation  Company. 
The  upper  gate  of  the  lower  locks  is  kept  closed  to  keep  the  water  level  up,  and  although  boats  enter  the  canal  from 
above  there  is  no  egress  below.  At  the  head  of  the  canal  is  a  dam  built  of  wood  and  stone — the  wooden  frame 
being  bolted  down  to  the  rock  with  iron  pins — extending  in  a  broken  line  diagonally  up  stream,  with  a  length  of 
about  700  feet  and  a  height  of  about  4  feet.  The  river  here  is  about  1,100  feet  wide,  and  the  dam  extends  rather 
beyond  the  center.  It  was  built  about  the  year  1830,  but  the  principal  part  was  rebuilt  in  1873  and  1874,  and  cost 
about  $8  per  running  foot.  It  is  founded  entirely  on  solid  rock,  and,  although  once  a  little  injured  by  a  freshet, 
there  is  rarely  any  trouble  with  either  freshets  or  ice.  The  pond  is,  of  course,  insignificant.  The  canal,  although 
probably  originally  3  feet  deep,  is  at  present  much  filled  up  in  some  places,  its  depth  varying  from  1.9  to  3.5  feet, 
and  supplies  power  to  the  following  mills,  taking  them  in  order  down  the  canal: 

1st.  Gerst's  planing-mill.  A  new  mill  is  now  being  put  up,  and  the  old  one  is  not  running.  They  have  a 
fall  of  7  or  8  feet,  and  own  the  right  to  50  horse-power,  but  no  care  is  taken  by  those  owning  the  power  to 
regulate  strictly  the  quantity  of  water  they  consume.  They  can  run  at  their  full  capacity  for  about  seven  months, 
and  sometimes  can  only  get  half  capacity. 


Report  of  Roanoke  Navigation  Company  in  one  of  the  reports  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia. 


C95 


36 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


2d.  Foundry  and  machine-shop,  owned  by  Crews  &  Bodenhizer,  and  rented  by  Corbiu  &  Westbrook.  They 
only  run  two  or  three  days  of  the  week,  use  9-feet  fall  and  30  horse-power,  and  say  that  they  can  get  full  capacity 
all  the  time.   They  use  an  overshot  wheel,  and  the  amount  of  water  is  not  strictly  regulated. 

3d.  G.  W.  Yarbrough's  grist-mill,  running  two  sets  of  stones,  with  17  feet  fall  and  some  25  horse-power.  Full 
capacity  can  be  obtained  during  nine  months,  and  sometimes  only  one-half  can  be  obtained.  Mill  and  power  is 
rented  at  a  fixed  price  per  annum,  and  as  much  water  can  be  used  as  can  be  obtained,  for  here,  as  in  the  other 
cases,  no  attempt  is  made  to  regulate  the  amount.  The  water-power  on  this  side  of  the  river  is  owned  by  the  firm 
of  Crews  &  Eodenhizer. 

These  mills  have  no  trouble  with  ice,  aud  the  upper  one  has  none  with  backwater,  but  the  lower  two  are  troubled 
for  perhaps  two  days  in  the  year  from  that  cause.  All  these  mills  could  get  full  capacity  all  the  time  if  the  canal 
were  properly  cleaned  out. 

The  power  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  is  owned  by  Lee,  Hatcher  &  Co.,  and  is  used  fo*r  a  corn-  and  grist- 
mill and  a  foundry  and  machine-shop.  The  dam,  which  is  built  partly  of  wood  and  partly  of  stone,  extends, 
in  a-  broken  line,  very  obliquely  up  stream  below  the  dam  on  the  south  side,  and  not  reaching  the  center  of  the 
stream.  The  stone  part  extends  from  the  bank  for  a  distance  of  400  feet,  was -built  in  1874  at  a  cost  of  $5,000,  and 
has  an  average  height  of  4  feet;  while  the  wooden  part,  a  continuation  of  the  stone  part,  has  a  length  of  600  feet, 
a  height  of  4  feet,  and  was  built  in  187G  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  being  constructed  of  crib-work,  fastened  to  the  rock 
with  iron  pins,  and  filled  with  stone.  The  bed  is  solid  rock.  The  mills  are  situated  at  the  base  of  the  dam, 
using  a  fall  of  8  feet  2  inches,  and  about  80  horse-power,  the  tail-race  being  blasted  out  of  the  solid  rock  for  some 
distance.  The  dam  simply  intercepts  what  water  flows  around  the  end  of  the  Danville  dam,  and,  of  course,  gives 
no  storage.  The  owners  claim  200  horse-power  available  with  the  fall  mentioned,  and  expect  to  get  full  capacity  all 
the  time.  (The  improvements  were  in  progress  at  the  time  of  my  visit.)  The  flour-mill  has  4  sets  of  stones,  and 
will  run  night  and  day,  and  the  machine-shop  10  hours.  Three  turbine-wheels  supply  the  power.  The  dam  has 
never  been  carried  away  or  injured  by  freshets.  Mr.  Hatcher  states  that,  with  a  5-foot  dam  further  up  the  river,  a 
fall  of  between  1G  and  17  feet  can  be  rendered  available  in  a  distance  of  2,500  feet;  and  the  firm  indicated  their 
intention  of  developing  the  power  to  a  large  extent  in  this  way,  and  of  leasing  water  at  a  fixed  rate  per  day  per 
horse-power. 

The  city  of  Danville  obtains  its  water-supply  by  pumping  wa  ter  from  the  river  at  a  point  about  1|  miles  above 
the  dams.  The  present  supply  amounts  to  2,000,000  gallons  per  week,  but  is  expected  to  be  5,000,000  in  a  few 
years,  as  the  water-works  are  new.  This  amount,  however — less  than  2  cubic  feet  per  second — is  insignificant  as  a 
source  of  loss  of  power  below. 

The  width  of  the  river  opposite  Danville  varies  from  1,100  feet,  at  the  head  of  the  falls,  to  850  feet  at  other 
points.  Between  Danville  and  Milton  shoal  it  is  from  240  to  640  feet,  or  an  average  of  280  feet;  at  Milton  shoal 
it  is  from  240  to  440  feet ;  from  Milton  shoal  to  Hyco  s*hoal  it  is  from  210  to  540  feet,  or  an  average  of  300  feet,  and 
below  Hyco  shoal  it  is  from  250  to  530  feet,  or  an  average  of  340  feet. 

The  area  drained  by  the  Dan  above  Danville  is  about  1,989  square  miles,  and  the  rainfall  about  42  to  46  inches, 
with  13  inches  in  summer  and  12  inches  in  winter  (see  table  on  page  37).  In  the  absence  of  any  gaugings  of  the 
flow,  I  have  estimated  it,  and  the  power,  as  in  the  following  table : 


Estimate  of  flow  of  stream,  and  of  the  power,  at  Danville,  Virginia. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per  sec- 
ond. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Square  miles. 
1,984 

Feet. 
21. 977 

Cubic  feet. 
(•  360 
420 
1,750 
l  475 

1  footfall. 
40.7 
47.4 
199.0 
54.0 

22  foot  fall. 

900 
1,150 
4,  375 
1,188 

The  full  power  at  Danville  has  never  been  utikzed.  The  present  canal,  if  cleared  out  to  its  original  dimensions 
(30  feet  wide  at  top  and  3  feet  deep),  would,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Weldon  canal,  carry  from  120  to  250  cubic  feet 
per  second,  but  in  this  case  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  make  its  capacity  sufficient  to  carry  the  whole  flow  of  the 
river. 

The  question  of  the  purchase  by  the  city  of  Danville  of  the  entire  water-power  of  the  Dan  river  at  this  place 
has  been  agitated  recently. 

Although  the  valley  of  the  Dan  above  Danville  offers  sites  'for  storage-reservoirs,  yet  it  would,  perhaps,  be 
difficult  to  obtain  sufficient  storage  to  render  the  maximum  power  available. 

The  location  of  Danville,  as  regards  transportation,  is  most  favorable,  situated  as  it  is  on  the  Eichmond  and 
Danville  railroad,  and  pn  the  Virginia  Midland.  Several  new  roads  have  been  projected,  and  two  are  being  built  (or 
have  been  surveyed  and  located)  up  the  valley  of  the  Dan.  One  of  them,  the  North  Carolina  Midland  railroad,  is  to 
run  from  Danville  through  Madison,  thence  southward  to  Statesville  and  further.  The  termini  of  the  other  road  I 
cannot  state,  but  I  understand  that  it  is  to  run  from  Danville  up  the  valley  of  the  Dan.    The  staple  product  in  this 

696 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


37 


neighborhood  is  tobacco,  and  the  people  have  not  turned  their  attention  to  manufacturing,  except  to  a  very  small 
extent.  The  neighboring  region  is  very  salubrious,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  the  water-power  of  the 
river  should  not  be  more  extensively  used. 

Proceeding  up  the  river,  various  shoals  are  encountered,  all  of  which  are  mentioned  in  the  following  table.  As 
before,  the  power  has  been  calculated  only  for  the  principal  ones.  I  am  unable  to  describe  in  -detail  any  of  these 
shoals,  not  having  visited  any  of  them  in  person.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  facilities  for  power  are  good,  as 
far  as  bed  and  banks  are  concerned,  both  from  Mr.  Abert's  report  and  from  what  additional  information  I  could 
gather.  The  width  of  the  stream  between  Danville  and  Madison  varies  from  190  to  430  feet,  averaging  perhaps 
250  feet.  At  Hairston's  ford,  above  Madison,  it  is  160,  and  at  Danbury  120  feet.  The  power  of  the  river  is  utilized 
between  Danville  and  Danbury  at  only  two  points,  viz,  at  Eagle  falls  and  at  Hairston's  falls,  and  there  only  by  small 
grist-  and  saw-mills,  using  a  very  small  amount  of  power.  The  mill  at  Hairston  falls  is  supplied  by  a  dam  at  the 
head  of  the  falls,  extending  in  the  form  of  a  V  across  the  stream,  with  the  apex  up  stream,  and  constructed  of  logs. 
It  was  built  in  1879,  at  a  cost  of  about  $125,  and  is  about  150  yards  (?)  long  and  3i  feet  high,  baching  the  water 
about  half  a  mile.  A  race  about  2,000  feet  long  leads  to  the  mill,  located  on  the  right  bank,  where  a  fall  of  9 
feet  is  used  with  a  primitive  wheel  to  drive  the  grist-  and  saw-mill,  some  20  horse-power  (net)  being  utilized,  and 
in  dry  weather  no  water  flowing  over  the  dam.    The  bed  of  the  river  is  solid  rock. 

A  power  just  above  Danbury  was  formerly  used  to  a  small  extent  by  the  iron- works  at  that  place.  The  dam 
was  10  feet  high,  and  the  water  carried  to  the  works  through  a  tunnel  about  100  yards  long,  cutting  through  a 
spur  of  the  hills  around  which  the  river  bends,  and  affording  at  the  lower  end  of  the  canal  a  fall  of  21  feet.  The 
fall  used  by  the  works  was  about  16  feet,  and  the  distance  from  the  head  of  the  canal  to  the  foot  of  the  tail-race 
about  half  a  mile  by  the  river.  A  very  small  proportion  of  the  dry-weather  flow  of  the  stream  was  utilized. 
The  works  have  not  been  in  operation  since  1865,  and  the  dam  has  been  entirely  washed  away.  It  is  said  that  a  dam 
18  feet  high  could  be  built  at  this  place,  in  which  case  the  available  fall,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  canal,  would  be  29  feet. 

Above  Danbury  the  Dan  is  a  small  stream,  but  has  a  great  deal  of  power,  on  account  of  its  rapid  fall.  I 
can  form  no  estimate  of  its  available  power,  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  sites  for  small  mills  can  be  found  at  numerous 
points  all  the  way  up.    The  utilized  power  is  tabulated  below. 

The  results  in  the  tables  below  must  only  be)  considered  as  very  rough  approximations,  but  I  believe  the  powers 
given  to  be  rather  too  small  than  too  great.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the  rainfall  records  for  the  region 
considered  are  very  incomplete  indeed,  so  that  its  distribution  through  the  year  is  very  uncertain,  and  that  there  are 
no  gaugings  of  the  river  in  existence,  the  engineer  will  be  inclined  to  put  little  reliance  on  the  figures  given,  and 
I  must  be  distinctly  understood  as  not  claiming  for  them  any  more  value  than  they  are  worth.  A  more  accurate 
knowledge  of  the  climatic  and  other  features  of  the  region  considered  would  doubtless  lead  me  to  alter  my  estimates. 
And  finally,  it  is  to  be  remarked  that  these  figures  refer  to  the  power  available  with  the  natural  fall  of  the  stream, 
with  its  natural  flow  ;  or,  in  the  case  of  storage-reservoirs,  with  its  mean  flow  at  all  hours.  If  the  water  could  be 
stored  during  the  night,  all  these  powers  could  be  doubled,  and  the  power  at  many  shoals  could  doubtless  be 
considerably  increased  by  putting  up  dams. 

I  have  not  considered  it  worth  while,  however,  to  calculate  the  theoretical  available  power  between  the  principal 
shoals,  as  it  is  uncertain  how  much  of  it  would  be  practically  available.  It  is  evident  that  the  Dan  river  offers  a 
large  amount  of  available  power  and  fine  facilities  for  manufacturing. 


Summary  ofpotcer  ofihe  Ban  River*  between  Danville,  Va.,  and  Banbury,  N~.  C. 


Locality. 


Richmond  and  Danville  rail- 
road-bridge...  

D.mville  falls   

Lynch's  shoal  

Long  shoal  

Glass'  shoal  

Butter  spring  shoal  

Wolf  island  shoal  

Adams'  island  shoal  

Adams'  fish- trap  shoal  

Little  Island  Ledge  rapid.  ... 


Miles. 
0.  000 
0.  500 
3.  232 
4.583 
7.  789 
9.299 
10. 606 
11. 986 
13.057 
13.  263 


Sq.  ins. 
1,989 
1,  989 


1,  851 
fl,  810 


J3L,  760 


Rainfall. 


Inches. 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11.-12 
11-12 
11-12 


Inches. 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 


Inches. 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 


Inches. 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 


Inches. 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-18 
44-48 
44-48 


Total  fall. 


Feet. 


22.  00 
2.53 

18.  73 
5.68 
2.78 
2.76 
4.  38 
0.  81 
0.50 


Feet. 


7,  500 

2,  531 

8,  527 
6,  228 
2,420 

3,  508 
4,144 

532 
619 


Horse-power  available,  gross. t 


670 
200 


150 


a  s 


1,  050 


a  bn 

9  « 
a  u 

1 1 


4,  375 


825 
240 


184 


3,  465 
1,  025 


770 


o  x 

x  ^ 

ca  cs 

o  v 

X 


Total  utilized. 


Feet. 


1, 188 


8-17 


944 
275 


210 


'Bottom  rock ;  often  at  surface,  always  at  small  depth.   All  favorable  for  dams.         f  See  pages  18  to  21.         }  Interpolated. 


180 


2.28 


697 


38 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Summary  of  power  of  the  Dan  river,  etc. — Continued. 


Horse-power  available,  gross.* 

Total  utilized. 

Per  cent,  of  minimum 
utilized. 

Minimum. 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

Low  season,  dry- 
years. 

i 

i, 

a 

1 
Pi 

<b 

u 
o 

w 

145 

180 

750 

205 

Feet. 

• 

"""""■"* 

170 

211 

880 

241 

185 

228 

950 

260 

75 

100 

440 

115 



! 

31 
42 

44 

60 

196 
260 

51 

69 

18 
66 
30 

38 

26 
98 
44 

57 

134 
492 
213 
270 

30 
110 

50 
65 

19 
27 

28 
40 

140 
200 

32 
46 

18 
22 
37 
75 
102 

3,480 
950 
930 

5, 360 

25 
32 
55 
110 
150 

4,300 
1, 275 
1, 350 
6,925 

132 
170 
265 
525 
725 

18,  000 
5,600 
6, 250 

29, 850 

29 
37 
63 
12.5 
175 

4, 900 
1, 450 
1, 550 
7,900 

Locality. 


Ware's  shore  

Pruitt's  lower  shoal  

Pruitt's  upper  shoal  

Cow  Ford  shoal  

Hairston's  fish-trap  shoal  .... 

Beasley's  Gallows  shoal  

Tan  Yard  shoal  

Devil's  Jump  shoal  

"Wide  Mouth  shoal  

Indian  shoal  

Sauratown  ford  shoal  

Double  shoal  

Hamblin's  island  shoal  

Galloway's  fish-trap  shoal... 

Galloway's  island  

Eeese's  rock  shoal  

Eagle  Falls  

Mulberry  island  shoal  

Three  islands  shoal  

Lone  island  shoal  

Gravel  bar  

Slink  shoal  

Cross  Bock  rapid  

Boberson's  fish-trap  

Gravel  shoal  

Gravel  shoal  

Beaver  island  shoal  

Wolf  shoal  

Cross  Eock  shoal  

Shoal  and  fish  dam  

Sandy  island  shoal  

Carter's  shoal  

Entity's  shoal  

Buzzard  island  shoal  

Ladd's  ford  shoal  

Dalton's  fish-trap  shoal  

Granny  Angel's  shoal  

Shoe-buckle  island  shoal  

Clav's  island  sho-.il  

Fish-trap  shoal  


Miles. 
14. 468 
15. 612 

15.  768 

16.  394 
19. 094 
19.  891 
20. 452 
21.  597 
23.  349 
26.  946 
27.54 
27. 835 
33.  473 
33. 843 
35.  536 
37.  420 
39. 378 
43. 100 
45. 740 
46.  240 


Hairston's  Falls. 


Big  Rock  shoal  

Mount  Horrible  shoal  — 
Williams'  fish-trap  shoal. 

Davis  shoal  

Cow  ford  shoal  

Ducking  shoal  

Fulcher's  shoal  

Sink  hole  shoal  

Bed  shoal  

Old  mill  shoal  

Danbury  shoal  

Old  Iron  Works  shoal  


Between  Danville    

and  mouth  of  Smith's  river. 
Bet.  mouth  of  Smith's  river. . 

and  mouth  of  Mayo  

Between  mouth  of  Mayo  

and  Danbury  

Total  between  Danville  

and  Danbury  


48.30 
48.60 

48.  90 

49.  53 
50. 33 
51.67 
52.57 
53. 70 
54.  39 
55. 21 
56.  52 
57.56 
58.40 
59.63 
60.77 
61.44 
61.  79 
64. 21 
65.  70 
66. 88 
68.49 
69.  91 
71.  26 
71.  64 
71.  82 
72.21 
73.  08 

73.  65 
74.20 

74.  58 
75.20 
77.  49 


Sq.  ms. 
tl,  735 


0 
28 
28 
49 
49 
78 

0 


tl,  675 


1,  639 
975 


t950 
t940 


Eainfall. 


to 


560 
550 


t340 
328 
t320 
1315 


1312 
312 


1275 
270 
250 

250 


1,  989  ) 
1, 639  5 
1,  039  i 
900  i 
580  } 
250  5 
1,  989  l 
250  5 


Inches. 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 

12 


Inches. 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
12-13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 

13 


Inches. 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
' 10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10-11 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 

10 


Inches. 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
11-12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 

12 


Inches. 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
4448 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44  48 
44-48 
4448 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
44-48 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 
47 

47 


Total  fall. 


w 


Feet. 
4. 35 
0.  37 

0.  35 
0.  23 
0. 42 
0.60 
5.28 
0.37 
2. 17 
0.  64 
0. 71 
5.85 
0.  30 
4.50 

0.  49 
2.  82 
3. 14 

1.  38 

1.  62 

1  93 
0.  04 

2.  58 
0.  69 
0.  30 
0.38 

0.  49 
2.  44 

1.  20 

2.  36 
1. 17 

3.  51 

4.  70 

2  09 

0.  52 
1. 18 
2.  59 
1. 33 
2.  56 
L  40 
3. 93 

14.89 
6.  65 
8.  67 

1.  85 
1.  79 

1.  01 
4.  52 
6.  44 

2.  01 
1. 13 
4.  79 
6.  22 

10.  60 
;  21. 00 
!  29.  00 

100.0 
56.0 
150.0 
300.0 


Feet. 

3, 794 
631 
657 
689 
559 
595 

4,  399 
658 
31 
890 
901 

8,619 
400 

2,898 

1,  500 

2,  600 
1,  290 
1, 250 

883 
1,  450 
150 
1,  074 
150 
580 
750 
309 
1,  090 
305 
1, 188 
381 
3,241 
3,276 
1,  288 
220 
444 
606 
441 
1,  806 
477 

1,  517 

2,  629 
3, 280 
4,033 
1, 119 

390 
205 
1, 841 
2,  616 
810 

1,  266 

2,  237 

3,  317 


Miles. 
28 

21 

29 

78 


693 


'See  pages  18  to  21. 


1  Interpolated. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


3& 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  DAN  RIVER. 

The  first  tributary  of  any  importance  above  the  confluence  of  the  Dan  and  Staunton  is  Hyco  river,  which 
enters  from  the  south,  its  mouth  being  just  above  the  head  of  Little  Hyco  falls.  This  stream  rises  in  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  Caswell  and  Person  counties,  North  Carolina,  and  flows  in  a  northeasterly  direction  through 
Halifax  county,  Virginia,  having  a  total  length,  in  a  straight  line,  of  about  45  miles,  and  draining  an  area  of  about 
400  square  miles.  It  is  about  125  feet  wide  near  its  mouth.  Its  tributaries  are  small  and  unimportant,  and  there 
are  no  important  towns  on  the  stream.  I  was  unable  to  learn  much  about  its  power.  The  bed  and  banks  are  said 
to  be  everywhere  favorable,  the  former  being  generally  rock.  The  only  power  used  on  the  stream  is  for  small  grist- 
and  saw-mills,  none  of  which  are  extensive.  No  sites  not  used  were  brought  to  my  notice,  but  probably  numerous 
ones  may  be  obtained  by  damming.  As  the  stream  flows  parallel  to  the  general  strike  of  the  rock  strata,  it  is 
probable  that  the  declivity  is  quite  uniform  and  not  broken  by  falls.  In  another  table  will  be  found  the  total  amount 
of  power  utilized,  compiled  from  the  enumerator's  reports.  The  rainfall  on  the  drainage  area  being  about  40  or  42: 
inches,  I  have  estimated  the  flow  of  the  stream  at  its  mouth  (see  pages  18  to  21)  as  follows : 

Cubic  feet  per  Horse-power  per 
second.  foot  fall. 

Minimum   45  5. 0 

Minimum  low  season   64  7. 3 

Low  season,  dry  years   73  8. 3 

Maximum,  with  storage   325  37.0 

The  next  tributary  of  importance  is  the  Bannister  river,  from  the  north,  rising  in  Pittsylvania  county,  Virginia, 
and  flowing  a  little  south  of  east  through  Pittsylvania  and  Halifax,  and  joining  the  Dan  just  above  King's  shoal, 
ite  total  length,  in  a  straight  line,  being  about  40  miles,  its  drainage  area  about  500  square  miles,  and  its  width  near 
its  mouth  about  120  feet.  It  flows  close  by  Meadsville  and  Halifax  C.  H.,  which  are  the  principal  towns  on  the 
stream.  It  has  considerable  fall,  but  is  utilized  only  for  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  and  a  foundry  at  Meadsville. 
The  power  at  this  latter  place  is  said  to  be  fine,  running,  besides  the  foundry,  a  grist-mill  and  saw-mill;  but  I  have 
not  been  able  to  obtain  details  regarding  it.  Near  Riceville,  Pittsylvania  county,  is  a  power  with  a  fall  of  12  feet 
in  900,  with  good  sites  for  building  on  the  north  bank.*  This  power  is  now  used  by  a  merchant  mill.  I  have 
estimated  the  flow  and  power  of  the  stream  at  several  points,  and  the  results  are  as  follows  (the  rainfall  being  in 
the  neighborhood  of  40  inches) : 


Tlace. 

Drainage 
area. 

Flow  per  second  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Horse  power  per  foot  fall. 

Minimum. 

Minimum 
low  sea- 
son. 

Maximum, 
with  stor- 
age. 

Low  sea- 
son, dry 
year. 

Minimum. 

Minimum 
low  sea- 
son. 

Maximum, 
with  stor- 
age. 

Low  sea- 
son, dry 
year. 

Sq.  miles. 

Cu.  feet. 

Ou.feet. 

Cu.feet. 

Cu.feet. 

500 

60 

80 

400 

01 

6.0 

9.1 

45.4 

10.3 

440 

53 

71 

352 

81 

6.0 

8.0 

40.0 

9.2 

400 

48 

64 

320 

73 

5.4 

'  7.3 

36.4 

8.3 

210 

27 

37 

197 

42 

3.1 

4.2 

22.4 

4.8 

This  stream,  flowing  across  the  rock  strata  at  large  angles  with  their  strike,  like  the  Dan,  is  probably  broken 
by  rapids  at  various  points,  but  no'detailed  information  could  be  obtained  regarding  them.  The  elevation  of  the 
stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Virginia  Midland  railroad  near  Competition,  about  32  miles  from  its  mouth,  is  585 
feet,  and  at  the  crossing  of  the  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad  at  Terry's  bridge,  some  3  miles  from  its  mouth,  it  is 
304  feer,  giving  a  fall  between  these  points  of  about  280  feet  in  a  distance  of,  say,  30  miles,  or  over  9  feet  to  the  mile — 
a  large  fall.  As  the  distance  between  the  two  points  where  elevations  are  given  above  was  measured  from 
the  map,  and  as  the  stream  is  quite  crooked,  the  fall  per  mile  above  given  is,  no  doubt,  to  some  extent  incorrect  ; 
but  it  is  evident  that  this  stream  has  a  very  large  fall,  and  it  is  almost  certain  that  very  fine  sites  for  power  may  be 
found  upon  it.  Taking  the  flow  at  Meadsville  as  the  average  in  the  distance  referred  to,  the  fall  of  280  feet  between 
the  Virginia  Midland  railroad  and  the  mouth  of  the  river  would  correspond  to  power  as  follows: 

Horse-]iower. 

Minimum   \  ejjtj 

Minimum  low  season   2  044 

Maximum,  with  storage   iq  X92 

Low  season,  dry  years   2,  324 

The  next  tributary  worth  mentioning  is  Country-line  creek,  from  the  south,  rising  in  Caswell  county,  North 
Carolina,  and  joining  the  Dan  just  on  the  state-line  (hence  the  name  of  the  stream),  after  flowing  in  a  northeasterly 
direction  for  a  distance  of  about  25  miles  in  a  straight  line  and  draining  an  area  of  some  130  square  miles.  This 
stream,  like  the  others  in  this  neighborhood,  is  used  only  for  running  small  saw-  and  grist-mills.  The  fall  is 
considerable,  but  no  great  falls  at  any  one  place  were  spoken  of,  and  probably  do  not  exist,  as  the  stream  flows 

•Information  from  H.  Eaton  Coleman,  civil  and  topographical  engineer,  county  surveyor  of  Pittsylvania  county. 

699 


40 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


nearly  parallel  to  the  strike  of  tbe  rocks.  The  declivity  is  probably  quite  uniform,  and  the  powers  obtained  only  by 
damming.  I  heard  of  no  good  sites  unoccupied.  Near  the  mouth  of  the  stream  is  Yarbrough's  grist-  and  saw-mill, 
with  a  dam  of  wood  and  stone  125  feet  long  and  9  feet  high,  backing  the  water  1£  miles,  with  an  average  width  of 
100  feet.  A  fall  of  8  feet  at  the  mill  affords  a  power  of  some  25  horse-power  most  of  the  time,  but  the  flow  of  the 
stream  is  quite  variable.  Opposite  Yanceyville  the  stream  is  considerably  smaller,  and  will  only  afford  about  2  or 
2£  horse-power  per  foot  fall  (gross)  during  eight  months  of  the  year.  The  water-power  of  the  stream  is  thus  not 
very  extensive. 

The  other  tributaries  below  Danville — Moon's  creek,  emptying  just  above  Wilkinson's  shoal,  and  draining  about 
57  square  miles,  and  Hogan's  creek,  emptying  at  Dix's  shoal,  and  draining  about  114  square  miles — are  similar  iu 
character  to  Hyco  and  Country-line  creeks,  and  are  utilized,  like  them,  only  to  run  small  country  grist-  and  saw- 
mills, the  former  with  one  or  two  run  of  stones.  In  a  later  table  will  be  found  the  statement  of  the  power  used  ou 
these  streams  collectively,  and  more  need  not  be  said  here. 

The  mills  in  this  neighborhood  are  very  little  troubled  by  ice,  and  rarely  have  to  stop  on  that  account.  The 
dams  are  generally  of  wood  or  of  crib-work  tilled  with  stone,  and  there  is  no  trouble  in  obtaining  good  foundations. 

The  first  tributary  above  Danville  worth  mentioning  is  Sandy  river,  from  the  north,  lying  entirely  within 
Pittsylvania  county,  Virginia,  and  emptying  1  mile  above  Danville.  It  has  several  grist-  and  saw-mills,  with,  two  or 
three  run  of  stones,  but  no  powers  of  importance.  There  is  said  to  be  a  fine  site  for  a  storage-reservoir  not  far  from 
the  mouth. 

Passing  by  several  small  creeks,  the  next  tributary  is  Smith's  river,  from  the  north,  a  very  considerable  stream. 
Eising  in  the  Blue  Eidge,  in  the  northern  part  of  Patrick  county,  Virginia,  it  flows  first  nearly  east,  and,  after  forming 
for  a  few  miles  tbe  boundary  between  Patrick  and  Franklin  counties,  it  enters  Henry  county,  flows  through  it  in  a 
southeasterly  direction,  and  empties  into  the  Dan,  in  North  Carolina,  just  below  the  town  of  Leaksville.  The  distance 
from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  36  miles,  but  by  the  river  it  is  probably  at  least  twice  tbat 
distance.  The  stream  flows  near  to  Martinsville,  the  county  seat  of  Henry  county,  it  and  Leaksville  being  the 
only  towns  of  importance  on  the  river.  The  total  drainage  area  of  the  stream  is  about  600  square  miles,  of  which 
39  are  in  North  Carolina.  The  drainage  area  above  Martinsville  is  330  square  miles.  Not  having  visited  the  river 
in  person,  on  account  of  its  inaccessibility,  I  am  unable  to  describe  its  drainage  basin  very  much  in  detail.  From 
all  that  I  could  learn,  however,  it  is  well  wooded,  with  a  fertile  soil,  and  abundance  of  fine  building-stone  to  be  had 
in  many  places,  and  with  facilities  for  artificial  storage,  although  there  are  no  lakes.  The  stream  has  a  very  rapid 
fall,  a  rock  bottom  almost  everywhere,  banks  of  moderate  heigbt,  and  few  low  grounds  subject  to  overflow,  although 
it  is  subject  to  freshets,  during  which  the  water  rises  20  feet  in  places.  It  is  fed  to  a  considerable  extent  by  constant 
springs,  and  is  said  not  to  be  very  variable  in  flow ;  and  the  extensive  forests  are  a  favorable  feature  in  this  respect. 

The  data  regarding  rainfall  in  the  basin  are  very  incomplete,  but,  according  to  the  Smithsonian  charts,  it  may 
be  assumed  at  about  41  to  48  inches,  of  which  12  fall  in  spring,  12  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  12  in  winter.  I 
have  no  records  of  continued  gaugings  of  the  stream,  or  of  its  elevations  at  different  points. 

The  stream  is  at  present  not  very  accessible,  the  nearest  railroad  point  being  Eeidsville,  on  the  Eichmond  and 
Danville  railroad,  14  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  I  have,  however,  already  referred  to  the  fact  that  two  roads 
are  now  being  built,  both  traversing  the  valley  of  the  Dan,  which  will  render  the  lower  part  of  the  stream  quite 
accessible. 

The  upper  parts  of  the  river  are  most  accessible  from  Eocky  Mount,  the  county  seat  of  Franklin  county,  which 
is  connected  with  the  Virginia  Midland  railroad  by  a  branch  road. 

Only  a  small  fraction  of  the  available  power  on  Smith's  river  is  at  present  used,  and  with  the  exception  of  the 
cotton  and  woolen  factory  of  J.  T.  Morehead  &  Co.,  near  Leaksville,  the  only  mills  are  country  saw-  and  grist  mills. 
The  Leaksville  power  is  the  only  one  regarding  which  I  have  detailed  information,  and  regarding  the  others  I  must 
refer  to  the  table  on  page  48,  compiled  from  the  reports  of  the  enumerators. 

Major  Morehead's  factory  is  located  about  1  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  and  on  its  west  bank.  The 
dam  extends  in  a  broken  line  entirely  across  the  river,  which  is  here  about  500  or  600  feet  wide,  and  is  built  partly 
of  rubble- work  in  cement  and  partly  of  wTood.  The  stone  part  is  about  180  feet  long,  13  feet  high,  6£  feet  thick,  and 
was  built  in  1872  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  while  the  wooden  part  is  built  of  logs,  pinned  to  the  bottom,  and  about  3  feet 
high.  By  extending  the  rock  dam  across  the  river  all  the  water  in  the  stream  could  be  turned  into  the  canal.  The 
pond  is  very  small,  and  gives  no  storage.  A  race  four-fifths  of  a  mile  in  length  leads  to  the  factory  buildings, 
where  a  fall  of  36  feet  is  used,  and  about  300  horse-power  is  distributed  as  follows  among  the  different  mills :  Cotton 
factory,  175;  woolen  factory,  50;  grist-mill,  50;  saw-mill,  25.  All  these  mills  can  run  at  full  capacity  all  the  time, 
and  water  is  always  wasting  over  the  dam.  The  mills  are  run  night  and  day,  and  are  seldom  troubled  by  high 
water,  and  only  about  4  days  per  year  by  cold  weather.  It  is  said  that,  by  extending  the  race,  an  additional  fall  of 
about  9  feet  can  be  obtained,  making  45  feet  in  all,  in  a  distance  of  about  a  mile. 

The  river  has  been  gauged  here  by  H.  Eaton  Coleman,  civil  engineer,  and  county  surveyor  of  Pittsylvania 
county,  Virginia,  who  found  the  discharge  to  be  600  cubic  feet  per  second  "at  mean  low  water".  But  as  a  single 
measurement  of  the  flow  has  little  value,  I  have  made  some  estimates  from  the  drainage  area,  and  the  results  are 
given  in  the  following  table : 

700 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  41 


Table  of  power  on  Smith's  river  at  LeaksviUe,  N.  C. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Sq.miles. 

1  f 
1 

j    600  1 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Horse-power 
utilized,  net. 

Per  cent,  of 
mi  n  no  mil 
utilized. 

Cubic  feet. 

90 
132 
150 
528 

1  footfall. 
10.3 
15 
17 
60 

36  feet  fall. 
371 
540 
612 
2i  160 

45  feet  fall. 
465 
675 
765 
2,  700 

j  300 

100 

Tbe  results  in  this  table  will  be  surprising  to  some  who  are  prone  to  overestimate  power.  A  discharge  of  600 
cubic  feet  per  second  at  low  water  would  correspond  to  1  cubic  foot  per  square  mile  of  drainage  area,  or  over  1  inch 
of  rainfall  per  month,  and  for  a  dry  month.  An  examination  of  the  table  on  page  21  will  show  that  this  cannot  be 
so  unless  there  are  some  remarkable  springs  in  the  drainage-basin ;  and,  in  fact,  it  is  sufficient  to  refer  to  the  gauging 
of  the  Dan  by  the  United  States  engineers,  made  at  a  point  near  South  Boston,  above  which  the  drainage  area  is 
about  2,600  square  miles,  and  which  gave  990  cubic  feet  per  second  "at  low  water",  but  probably  not  the  minimum. 
Even  this  would  give  per  600  square  miles  of  drainage  area,  if  the  discharge  is  taken  proportional  to  the  drainage 
area,  only  229  cubic  feet  per  second,  and  the  absolute  minimum  would  be  considerably  less.  The  flow  in  the  dry 
season  of  ordinary  years  would,  perhaps,  be  190  cubic  feet  per  second,  giving  about  775  horse-power,  with  a  fall  of 
36  feet.  My  estimate  gives  100  per  cent,  of  the  minimum  power  used,  but  Major  Morehead  states  that  they  u  can't 
miss  the  water  used  by  the  mills".  It  is  not  impossible  that  the  power  utilized  has  been  overestimated,  which 
would  tend  to  explain  this  result.  The  cotton  factory  runs  101  looms  and  about  4,800  spindles.  The  goods 
manufactured  are  brown  sheetings,  yarns,  sewing-thread,  and  knitting-cotton.  In  the  woolen-mill  there  is  one  set 
of  cards,  and  in  the  grist-mill  4  run  of  stones.  According  to  these  data,  without  further  particulars,  300  horse  power 
would  seem  to  be  too  high  an  estimate  of  the  power  utilized.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  this  power  is  a  most 
excellent  one  in  all  respects — one  of  the  finest  in  northwestern  North  Carolina.  Reidsville  is  Major  Morehead's 
shipping  point. 

About  2,000  feet  above  Major  Morehead's  dam  is  a  fall  of  about  6  feet  in  50,  not  used,  but  easily  controlled.* 
It  might  be  used  at  the  factory  below  by  raising  the  dam. 

The  power  above  this  point  is  used  only  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  in  regard  to  which  I  have  no  detailed  information. 
Enough  was  learned,  however,  to  show  that  the  river  offers  fine  sites  for  power  all  the  way  up,  the  principal 
disadvantage  being  their  inaccessibility.    The  river  has  no  tributaries  of  much  importance. 

The  town  of  Leaksville  has  a  considerable  trade  in  tobacco,  which  is  the  great  staple  of  the  county;  but  wheat 
and  corn  are  also  grown  in  considerable  quantities  on  the  fertile  bottoms  of  the  Dan,  Smith,  and  Mayo  rivers. 

Above  Smith's  river  are  several  unimportant  tributaries  to  the  Dan,  on  some  of  which  are  small  mills.  They 
are  similar  in  character  to  the  other  tributaries  below  Smith's  river.  On  Cascade  creek,  a  small  stream  entering 
from  the  north  below  Smith's  river,  Dr.  J.  G.  Brodneax  has  a  small  saw-  and  grist-mill,  and  a  very  good  small  power, 
with  a  fall  of  15  or  16  feet.    Timber  is  very  cheap  in  this  vicinity,  and  wooden  dams  can  be  erected  at  very  small  cost. 

The  next  large  tributary  above  Smith's  river  is  Mayo  river,  from  the  north,  a  stream  which,  like  Smith's  river, 
takes  its  rise  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Bidge,  in  the  western  part  of  Patrick  county,  Virginia,  and  which, 
after  flowing  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  through  Patrick  county  and  a  corner  of  Henry  county,  Virginia, 
and  Rockingham  county,  North  Carolina,  joins  the  Dan  a  little  below  Madison,  and  just  above  Boberson's  fish-trap 
shoal.  Its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  55  miles,  and  along  the  general  course  of  the  stream  about  60  miles,  but 
probably  considerably  more  if  all  of  its  windings  are  followed.  The  only  town  on  the  stream  is  Taylorsville,  the  county 
seat  of  Patrick  county.  Its  total  drainage  area  is  about  316  square  miles,  of  which  60  square  miles  are  above 
Taylorsville,  and  its  principal  tributary  is  the  North  Mayo,  from  the  north,  draining  about  90  square  miles.  Its 
drainage-basin  is,  in  all  respects,  similar  to  lhat  of  Smith's  river.  The  fall  of  the  stream  is  considerable,  but  it  is  said 
to  be  more  uniform  than  that  of  either  the  Dan  or  Smith's  river,  and  with  not  so  many  rapids  and  falls.  The  bed 
is  rock  almost  everywhere,  the  banks  high,  and  not  many  low  grounds  subject  to  overflow.  In  the  absence  of 
gaugings  I  have  estimated  the  flow  and  the  power  of  the  stream  at  its  mouth  as  in  the  following  table: 


Flow  and  power  of  Mayo  river  at  its  mouth  . 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horso  -  power 
available,  gioss. 

Square  miles. 

316 

Cubic  feet. 

(  40 
57 
65 

1  278 

1  foot  fall. 

4.7 
6.5 
7.4 
31.0 

Minimum  low  soason  

Low  season,  dry  years  

Maximum,  with  storage  

*  Information  from  Major  Morehead. 

701 


42 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  power  on  the  stream  is  used  only  for  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  but  there  are  many  sites  not  in  use.  The 
first,  ascending  the  river,  is  about  1  mile  from  Madison,  and  the  same  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  used 
until  recently  for  a  corn-  and  saw-mill.  The  dam  is  a  natural  ledge,  and  the  total  fall  of  the  shoal  is  said  to  be  32  feet. 
This  site  has  not  been  used  for  ten  years,  but  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  best  in  the  vicinity,  with  safe  location  for  mills 
and  little  trouble  with  high  water  or  overflow.    It  is  owned  by  Mr.  Eobert  Lewis. 

About  2  miles  further  up  the  stream  is  a  flour-mill,  and  above  there  are  other  small  ones.  There  is  very  little 
bottom-land  on  the  river  for  some  six  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  the  fall  in  that  distance  is  very  considerable,  ledges  of 
rock  crossing  the  stream  all  the  way.  Above  this,  however,  the  stream  is  flat  for  15  or  20  miles,  and  the  facilities  for 
power  are  not  so  good. 

Above  the  Mayo  there  are  several  small  creeks  flowing  into  the  Dan,  some  of  which  have  power  used,  and  all  of 
which  have  considerable  available.  They  are  good  streams  for  power,  and,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  are  not  subject  to 
such  great  variations  in  flow  as  those  farther  east.  The  powers  they  afford  are  small,  but  sufficieut  to  ruu  small  grist- 
and  saw-mills — sufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  people.  Being  easily  dammed,  and  having  considerable  fall,  they  are 
preferred  to  the  Dan  river  for  small  powers.  The  most  important  tributary  above  the  Mayo  is  Town  fork,  which  joius 
the  Dan  just  above  Shoe-Buckle  island  shoal;  but  regarding  it  or  the  other  tributaries  above  I  have  no  detailed 
information. 

All  of  these  tributary  creeks,  as  well  as  the  Dan  river  itself,  are  subject  to  sudden  and  quite  heavy  freshets, 
but  they  Lave  so  much  fall  that,  in  general,  not  much  damage  is  done,  although  on  the  Dan,  even  above  Danville, 
there  are  many  bottoms  which  are  overflowed  at  times.  The  freshets  are,  in  general,  short,  lasting  usually,  it  is 
said,  only  four  or  five  days. 

Finally,  it  may  be  said  of  all  the  valley  of  the  Dan,  and  particularly  of  the  upper  part,  that  the  climate  is 
exceedingly  salubrious  (much  more  so  than  in  the  valley  of  the  Boanoke,  especially  its  lower  part),  the  soil  fertile, 
and  the  people  industrious  and  hospitable.  The  advantages  for  manufacturing  are,  in  every  respect,  excellent, 
except  as  regards  accessibility,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  two  railroads  which  are  now  projected  up  the  valley 
may  soon  remove  that  objection. 

THE  STAUNTON  RIVEB. 

This  stream  rises  in  Montgomery  and  Floyd  counties,  Virginia;  flows  first  northeast  into  Boanoke;  thence 
southeast,  forming  the  boundary  between  Bedford,  Campbell,  and  Charlotte  on  its  left,  and  Franklin,  Pittsylvania, 
and  Halifax  on  its  right,  uniting  with  the  Dan  in  Mecklenburg  to  form  the  Boanoke.  Its  length,  in  a  straight  line, 
is  about  110  miles,  and  by  the  general  course  of  the  river  perhaps  200,  and  still  more  if  all  its  windings  are  followed. 
There  are  no  large  towns  on  the  stream.  The  river  is  known  as  the  Boanoke  in  the  upper  part  of  its  course,  in 
Montgomery  and  Boanoke  counties. 

The  river  and  harbor  bill  of  June  18,  1878,  authorized  a  survey  of  the  river  between  Brook  Neal  and  Boanoke 
station,  on  the  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad,  which  was  executed  by  Mr.  S.  T.  Abert,  whose  reports  are  to  be 
found  in  the  reports  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  622,  and  1880,  p.  780.  By  the  act  of  March  3, 1879,  the  sum 
of  $5,000  was  appropriated  for  the  work  of  improving  the  navigation  of  the  river  between  these  points,  and  by  that 
of  June  14, 1880,  $7,500.  The  present  project  contemplates  the  securing  of  a  navigable  channel  not  less  than  35  feet 
wide  and  2  feet  deep  through  the  ledges  and  sand-bars,  and  a  slope  of  water-surface  at  the  rapids  not  greater  than 
10  feet  to  the  mile,  the  cost  being  estimated  at  $57,670.  These  are  the  only  works  of  navigation  projected  on  the 
river.    The  stream  is  now  navigable  to  Cole's  ferry,  a  distance  of  45J  miles,  the  depth  being  1£  feet  at  low  water. 

The  Staunton  river  drains  a  total  area  of  about  3,450  square  miles.  Proceeding  up  the  river,  its  principal 
tributaries  from  the  north  are,  in  their  order,  Bluestone  creek,  Ward's  fork,  Falling  river,  Otter  river,  Goose  creek, 
and  from  the  south,  in  the  same  order,  Pig  aud  Blackwater  rivers. 

The  drainage-basin  of  the  Staunton  resembles  that  of  the  Dan  so  closely  that  a  detailed  description  will  not  be 
necessary.  The  map  annexed  will  show  its  general  form  and  dimensions.  As  regards  the  bed  and  banks  of  the 
stream,  the  freshets,  the  facilities  for  storage,  the  soils,  vegetation,  people,  and  products,  all  the  general  remarks 
which  were  made  in  the  case  of  the  Dan  will  apply  also  to  the  Staunton.  The  river  takes  its  source,  however, 
considerably  higher  in  the  mountains  than  the  Dan,  its  source  being  west  of  the  Blue  Bidge,  through  a  gap  in  which 
it  passes  at  the  northern  edge  of  Franklin  county.  One  of  the  effects  of  this  will  be,  perhaps,  to  render  the  flow  of 
the  stream  more  variable  than  that  of  the  Dan,  and  from  what  I  can  learn  its  freshets  seem  to  be  rather  more 
violent,  the  river  rising  between  30  and  40  feet  above  low  water  between  Brook  Neal  and  Boanoke  station.  But 
another  effect  of  the  position  of  the  sources  of  the  river  beyond  the  Blue  Bidge  will  be  that  the  amount  and 
distribution  of  the  rainfall  on  its  upper  part  will  be  different  from  what  they  are  in  the  basin  of  the  Dan ;  and 
although  I  am  unable  to  state  with  accuracy  to  what  extent  or  just  in  what  way,  it  seems  probable,  from  the 
Smithsonian  charts,  that  the  amount  of  rainfall  will  be  rather  less  in  the  case  of  the  Staunton,  while  its  distributioa 
through  the  year  will  be  a  little  more  uniform — less  rain  falling  in  winter  on  the  upper  Staunton  than  on  the 
upper  Dan.  It  does  not  seem  improbable  that  the  resultant  effect  of  these  changes  will  be  to  render  the  flow  of  the 
Staunton,  as  a  whole,  smaller  in  proportion  to  its  drainage  area  than  that  of  the  Dan,  while  the  freshets  of  the 

702 


4 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  43 

former  may,  perhaps,  be  more  violent.   As  a  whole,  however,  the  mean  annual  rainfall  on  the  basin  of  the  Staunton 
may  be  taken  at  42-44  inches,  of  which  12  fall  in  spring,  10  or  12  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  10  in  winter. 
The  following  table  will  show  the  declivity  of  the  river : 


Staunton  river — Table  of  declivity. 


»  Place. 

Distance  from 
Clarksville. 

Elevation 
above  tide. 

Distance  be- 
tween points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Fall  bet  ween 
points. 

Miles. 

0 
22 
54 
84 
174 
186 

Feet. 

209 
385 
355 
500 
1,  070 
1,  245 

Miles. 

|  ....  a 

{     -   -   -  32 
|    -   -   -  30 
|     -   -    -  90 
{    ...  12 

Feet. 

36 
50 
145 

570 
175 

Feet  per  mile. 

1.04 
1.50 
4.  83 
6.  33 
14.  58 

Roanoke  station,  crossing  of  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad  

Crossing  of  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  railroad,  6  miles  west  of  Salem  

Crossing  of  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  railroad,  1  mile  west  of  Big  Spring  

The  elevations  given  were  furnished  by  railroad  officials,  with  the  exception  of  those  of  Clarksville  and  Brook 
Neal,  which  are  calculated  from  government  reports.  The  distances  were  measured  on  the  map,  following  the 
windings  of  the  rivers  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  they  are  believed  to  be  very  nearly  accurate. 

In  the  twenty-second  report  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  Virginia  is  a  report  on  a  survey  of  the  Staunton 
river  by  J.  J.  Couty.  It  is  there  stated  that  the  fall  from  the  Dan  river,  at  the  head  of  Nelson's  island — probably 
at  Skipwith's  thoroughfare — to  Brook  Neal  is  84.85  feet  in  a  distance  of  nearly  49  miles,  which  agrees  quite  well 
with  the  figures  given  above. 

Mr.  Abert  states  that,  according  to  an  old  survey,  the  fall  from  Smith's  gap,  where  the  river  breaks  through 
the  Blue  Bidge,  to  Clarksville— a  distance  of  112  miles — is  322.61  feet,  or,  on  the  average,  2.88  feet  per  mile. 

No  records  of  gaugings  being  at  hand,  I  am  again  obliged  to  resort  to  estimates  of  flow  and  power  based  on 
the  drainage  areas. 

The  river  is  crossed  by  four  railroads  :  by  the  Bicbmond  and  Danville  road  at  Roanoke  station,  about  22  miles 
above  Clarksville  (by  the  river) ;  by  the  Virginia  Midland  road  at  a  point  between  Ward's  bridge  and  Leesville, 
about  84  miles  above  Clarksville;  and  by  the  Atlantic,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  road  at  a  point  a  little  west  of  Salem, 
and  about  174  miles  above  Clarksville;  and  further  on  again,  at  a  point  some  186  miles  above  the  same  place;  but 
as  the  two  first-named  roads  cross  the  stream  nearly  at  right  angles,  all  that  portion  of  the  river  lying  east  of  the 
Blue  Bidge  is  very  inaccessible,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  map,  except  that  portion  for  a  short  distance  above  the 
crossing  of  the  Virginia  Midland  road,  which  is  accessible  from  the  branch  of  that  road  extending  to  Rocky  Mount, 
Franklin  county.  That  portion  which  lies  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge  is  easy  of  access  from  stations  on  the  Atlantic, 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  railroad,  which  follows  the  valley  of  the  stream  for  some  distance. 

I  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  much  information  regarding  the  water-power  of  the  stream.  The  country  is  thinly 
settled,  and  the  people  have  paid  very  little  attention  to  the  subject  of  water-power,  there  being  only  small  grist- 
and  saw-mills,  with  a  foundry  or  two,  in  the  whole  valley  of  the  Staunton.  The  power  at  present  utilized 
is  tabulated  below  from  the  returns  of  the  enumerators,  but  regarding  the  available  power  I  cannot  present  any 
definite  figures.  There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  Staunton  and  its  tributaries  offer  many  valuable  sites  for 
power,  some  of  which  could  be  rendered  available  at  a  very  small  cost.  The  following  brief  notes  comprise  all  the 
information  that  I  was  able  to  collect  with  the  limited  time  at  my  disposal. 

Below  Roanoke  station,  although  there  are  some  rapids,  very  little  power  ever  has  been  used,  and  only  for 
primitive  grist-  and  saw-mills,  the  former  running  two  or  three  sets  of  stones.  The  principal  fall  occurs  at  Tally's 
falls,  but  regarding  it  I  have  no  particulars.  The  average  width  of  the  river  in  this  section  of  its  course  is 
about  450  feet,  but  at  Tally's  falls  it  is  wider,  and  the  channel  is  broken  up  with  rocks  and  islands. 

Between  Roanoke  station  and  Brook  Neal  the  river  is  navigated  by  bateaux,  and  by  a  small  steamer  drawing 
14  inches  when  loaded,  which  is,  however,  unable  to  navigate  the  stream  at  low  stages  of  the  water.  The  land  in 
this  vicinity  is  very  fertile,  and  is  believed  to  be  the  best  tobacco  land  in  the  state  of  Virginia.  The  width  of  the 
river  in  this  section  varies  from  260  to  300  feet,  and  the  banks  are  12  to  22  feet  high.  In  November,  1877,  a  flood 
occurred,  which  was  the  highest  known  in  this  vicinity,  the  rise  being  36.33  feet  above  low-water  at  Roanoke 
station  and  43  feet  at  one  other  point  (Cole's  ferry);  but  the  banks  being  protected  by  a  continuous  fringe  of 
willows,  whose  fibrous  roots  hold  the  soil  together  very  effectively,  are  not  much  affected  by  the  current,  even  in 
such  heavy  freshets. 

The  principal  shoals  between  Roanoke  station  and  Brook  Neal  are  given  in  the  following  table,  taken  from 
Mr.  Abert's  report.  Whether  these  shoals  are  practically  available  for  power  I  cannot  say,  but  it  is  evident  that 
none  of  the  shoals  present  remarkable  powers,  like  some  of  those  on  the  Dan. 

Above  Brook  Neal  there  are  several  shoals  with  considerable  fall,  mention  having  been  made  of  Seven  Islands 
shoal,  just  above  Brook  Neal,  Rowark's  falls,  and  Dudley's  falls.  There  are  also  several  small  grist-mills  on  the 
stream,  all  having  rough  wing-dams.  There  is  said  to  be  not  a  single  dam  entirely  across  the  stream,  except  perhaps 
up  in  the  mountains. 

703 


44  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  estimates  of  power  given  in  the  latter  part  of  the  table  are  entitled  to  little  reliance,  and  are  only  inserted 
to  give  a  rough  idea  of  the  available  power  of  the  river  as  compared  with  that  of  the  Dan.  If  these  estimates  are 
much  out  of  the  way,  they  are  wrong  for  both  rivers  probably,  because  similar  suppositions  have  been  made  in 
both  cases. 

Staunton  river — Summary  of  power. 


Locality. 


Rainfall. 


Total  fall. 


ft 

a 


Horse-power  available,  gross.* 


i 

a§ 

0 

1 

li 

* 

.5 

% 

%  . 
-  © 

0  2 

a ■ 


Clark's  shoal  

Watkins'  reef  

Horseback  shoal  

Hawk  Mountain  shoal  

Cove  shoal  No.  3  

Cove  shoal  No.  2  

Cove  shoal  No.  1  

Britton's  shoal  

Dennis'  dam  

Rice's  shoal  

Michael's  dam  

Bruce's  shoal  

Kirkpatrick's  shoal  

Henry's  shoal  

Miller's  shoal  

White  Rock  falls  

Between  mouth  

and  mouth  of  Falling  river  

Between  mouth  of  Falling  river  

and  mouth  of  Otter  river  

Between  mouth  of  Otter  river  

and  mouth  of  Goose  river  

Between  mouth  of  Goose  river  

and  mouth  of  Pig  river  

Bet  ween  mouth  of  Pig  river  

and  mouth  of  Blackwater  river  

Between  mouth  of  Blackwater  river 

and  railroad  crossing  near  Salem  . . . 

Total  between  mouth  and  Salem  


Miles. 
25. 93 
27. 39 
28.26 
32.77 
34. 00 
34.  70 
35.67 
38.84 
41.  25 
41.93 
43. 43 
43.86 
45.86 
49. 79 
51. 23 
51.  91 

0 
54 
54 
80 
80 
91 
91 

102 

102 

113 

113 

174 
0 

174 


Sq.  ms. 


3, 450  i 
2,  722  5 
2,  509  j 
2, 257  3 
1,  892  > 
1,  836  5 
1,  556  ) 
1,  500  > 
1,088> 
1,  043  5 

730 
250 
3, 450  > 
250+  5 


12 


12 


12 


12 


In. 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 

10-12 
10-12 
10-12 
10-12 
10-12 
10-12 
10-12 


In. 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-t4 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 

42-44 
42-i4 
42-44 
42-44 
42-44 
42-44 
42-44 


Feet. 
0.  891 
0. 694 
C.426 
3. 774 
0. 707 
0  247 

0.  981 

1.  411 
0.  979 
1.391 
0.  500 
2.945 
2.733 
2.403 
0.996 
3.090 

86.  00 
125. 0± 
60.  0± 
70.  0± 
70.  0± 
386.  0± 
800.  0± 


Feet. 
1,  640 
650 
18,890 
3, 450 
2,190 
1,920 
2,420 
1, 780 
890 
1, 370 
185 
10,  970 
7,  510 
4, 425 
785 
1,075 
Miles. 
54 

26 

11 

11 

11 

61 

174 


5, 400 
6,100 

2,  275 
2, 000 
1, 250 

3,  000 
20,  025 


6,  600 

7,  500 
2,775 
2,600 
1,675 
4, 200 

25, 350 


24,  000 
28,  500 
10,  500 
10,  500 
7,350 
19,  000 
99, 850 


'  See  pages  18  to  21. 


TRIBUTARIES  OP  THE  STAUNTON  RIVER. 

The  first  tributary  met  with  in  ascending  the  river  is  Bluestone  creek,  entering  from  the  north  in  Mecklenburg 
county,  about  3  miles  above  Clarksville,  its  sources  being  in  Charlotte  county,  and  its  general  course  nearly  south. 
Its  length  is  about  17  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  about  85  square  miles.  Details  regarding  its  water-power  could 
not  be  obtained. 

The  next  stream  worth  mentioning  is  Ward's  fork,  also  from  the  north,  and  draining  an  area  of  191  square 
miles,  entirely  in  Charlotte  county.  Its  course  is  nearly  south,  and  its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  about  20  miles.  This 
stream  is  sometimes  known  as  the  Little  Roanoke.  Eegardiug  its  available  power  I  have  no  data.  That  which  is 
used  is  tabulated  beyond.  The  elevation  of  the  stream  at  tire  crossing  of  the  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad, 
some  4  miles  from  its  mouth,  is  322  feet. 

Falling  river,  the  next  tributary  worth  naming,  enters  the  river  about  2  miles  below  Brook  Iveal,  from  the 
north.  Its  length  is  about  25  miles  along  its  general  course,  and  it  drains  an  area  of  about  213  square  miles  in 
Campbell  and  Appomattox  counties.  It  has  considerable  fall,  and  is  said  to  be  a  good  stream  for  power,  running 
several  saw-  and  grist-mills  and  a  foundry,  all  herein  tabulated.  Details  of  its  available  power  could  not  be 
obtained  with  the  time  at  disposal.  Iu  fact,  examinations  of  all  these  streams  would  be  necessary  if  any  accurate 
conception  of  their  value  for  power  is  to  be  formed.  The  information  given  by  most  persons  with  whom  I 
orresponded  in  this  section  of  the  country  was  very  general,  being  mostly  confined  to  statements  that  the 
streams  had  "a  rapid  fall",  "plenty  of  sites  for  manufacturing  establishments",  and  the  like. 

Otter  river  is  the  next  considerable  tributary,  being  larger  than  any  thus  far  mentioned.  It  rises  near  the 
Peaks  of  Otter,  in  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Bedford  county,  whence  it  pursues  a  general  course 
nearly  southeast  through  Bedford  and  Campbell  counties,  entering  the  Staunton  in  the  latter  county,  about  4  miles 
704 


• 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  45 

below  the  crossing  of  the  Virginia  Midland  railroad.  Although  there  are  very  few  mills  on  the  stream,  as  will  be 
seen  by  turning  to  the  table,  it  is  said  to  be  an  excellent  stream  for  power,  and  it  must  certainly  have  a  very  large 
fall,  descending,  as  it  does,  from  the  Blue  Ridge.  Its  length  is  about  35  miles,  following  its  general  course,  and 
it  drains  an  area  of  3G5  square  miles.  Its  water-power  must  be  very  considerable,  and  I  think  there  is  no  doubt 
that  fine  sites  may  be  found  along  it  at  many  points,  although  I  heard  of  no  particular  ones. 

The  next  tributary,  the  Goose  river,  enters  the  Staunton  from  the  north  at  Leesville,  about  7  miles,  by  the  stream, 
above  the  crossing  of  the  Virginia  Midland  railroad.  It  lises,  like  the  Otter  river,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue 
Bidge,  and  flows  during  its  whole  course  nearly  parallel  to  the  latter  stream,  which  it  much  resembles  in  general 
character.  Its  length  is  about  the  same,  but  its  drainage  area  smaller,  viz,  280  square  miles.  Like  the  Otter,  its 
water-power  is  utilized  only  for  a  few  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  although  its  available  power  must  be  considerable. 

Pig  river,  from  the  sputh,  is  the  next  important  tributary,  being  in  fact  the  largest  tributary  of  the  Staunton, 
It  rises  in  the  Blue  Bidge  near  the  southwestern  corner  of  Franklin,  pursues  a  course  nearly  east  through  that 
county  and  into  Pittsylvania,  where  it  makes  a  bend  to  the  north  and  enters  the  Staunton  about  11  miles,  by  the 
river,  above  Leesville,  its  total  length,  following  its  general  course,  being  about  45  or  50  miles,  and  its  drainage  area 
about  413  square  miles.  It  receives  as  tributaries  several  large  creeks,  all  of  which  are  said  to  afford  good  power. 
The  Pig  river  is  a  rapid  stream,  and  probably  affords  many  sites  for  power — in  fact,  there  seems  no  doubt  that  it 
does — but  it  is  scarcely  used  at  all,  as  the  table  of  statistics  shows. 

The  last  tributary  of  the  Staunton  worth  mentioning  specially  is  Blackwater  river,  which  rises  in  the  western 
part  of  Franklin  county,  pursues  a  course  nearly  parallel  to  that  of  Pig  river,  and  joins  the  Staunton  about  a  mile 
above  the  northeast  corner  of  Franklin  county.  Its  total  length,  following  its  general  course,  is  abo  ut  35  miles,  and 
its  drainage  area  313  square  miles.  It  is  fair  to  conclude  that  its  general  character  is  nearly  the  same  as  that  of 
Pig  river,  and  that  it  affords  a  very  large  amount  of  unutilized  power. 

The  information  which  I  am  able  to  present  regarding  these  tributaries  of  the  Staunton,  notwithstanding 
the  large  amounts  of  power  they  possess,  is  very  meager,  and  this  is  due  to  several  causes,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  their  inaccessibility  in  general,  and  the  fact  that  so  little  power  is  used  on  them  that  it  is  difficult  to  find 
persons  well  acquainted  with  their  water-power.  It  is  also  due  in  great  measure  to  the  fact  that,  unlike  the  streams 
farther  south,  their  declivities  are,  on  the  whole,  quite  uniform,  with  few  precipitous  falls.  As  regards  their  general 
character,  their  banks  are  said  to  be  good  as  a  rule,  and  their  beds  are  gravel  and  sand,  with  rock  never  at  a  great 
depth,  and  sometimes  at  the  surface.  Most  of  the  low  grounds  along  their  banks  are  subject  to  overflow  in  times 
of  freshet,  the  latter  being  severe,  but  short.  This  region  is,  in  fact,  a  sort  of  a  transition  district  from  the  glacial 
region  of  the  north,  where  the  streams  flow  in  beds  of  gravel  and  sand,  cut  down  into  the  deposits  of  glacial  drift, 
and  with  uniform  declivities,  and  the  non-glacial  southern  region,  where  drift-deposits  do  not  occur,  except  in  the 
eastern  division,  and  where  the  streams  pour  often  over  ledges  of  rock  which  cross  their  course,  falling  often  20  to 
50  feet  in  a  few  hundred,  and  without  having  evened  out  their  beds  to  a  uniform  declivity  and  obliterated  these 
falls  by  filling  them  up  with  deposits  brought  down  from  above. 

While  the  streams  of  the  middle  states  have  comparatively  few  precipitous  falls,  those  of  the  southern  Atlantic 
states  have  many.  But  although  there  are  no  drift-deposits  in  the  middle  and  western  divisions  of  these  states, 
there  are  quite  extensive  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand  which  owe  their  origin  to  other  causes;  and  there  will  be 
occasion  to  show  that  many  of  the  southern  streams  are  gradually  filling  up  and  evening  out  their  beds  to  a  uniform 
declivity,  as  the  streams  of  the  middle  states  have  already  done. 

The  following  table  contains  some  estimates  of  the  flow  of  the  Staunton  and  its  tributaries,  not  entitled  to  much 
confidence,  but  serving  to  give  a  rough  idea  of  the  power  they  would  afford  (see  pages  18  to  21) : 


Staunton  river  and  tributaries — Table  of  estimated  flow  and  power. 


River  and  place. 

d 

"55 
9 
^ 

Eg 
R 

Kainfall. 

Flow,  per  second. 

Horse-power  available,  1  foot  fall,  gross. 

a 
3. 

CD 

Summer. 

Autumn. 

Winter. 

5 

9 

a 
a 

3 

9 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
.  storago. 

Low  season,  dry 
years. 

Minimum. 

Minimum  low 

season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

t  » 
o 

hi 

Sq.miles. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Cu.ft. 

Cu.ft. 

Cv,.  ft. 

Cu.ft. 

Staunton,  at  mouth  

3, 450 

.  12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

655 

759 

2,  760 

807 

74.5 

86.2 

313.6 

9S.  5 

Staunton,  above  Bluestone  

3,  365 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

605 

740 

2,690 

845 

68.8 

84. 1 

306.0 

90.0 

Staunton,  above  Ward's  fork  

3,  033 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-41 

516 

667 

2,425 

762 

62.0 

75.  8 

275.0 

80.0 

Staunton,  above  Falling  river  

2,  509 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

450 

550 

2,000 

630 

51.  1 

62  5 

227.0 

71.6 

Staunton,  above  Otter  river  

1,  892 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

321 

397 

1,600 

450 

36.  5 

45. 1 

182.  0 

51. 1 

Staunton,  above  Goose  river  

1,550 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

256 

326 

1,322 

373 

29.2 

37.1 

150.  0 

42.4 

Staunton,  above  Pig  river  

1,  088 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

163 

218 

957 

250 

18.5 

24.8 

109.  U 

28.4 

Staunton,  above  Blackwater  river  

730 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42^14 

109 

146 

642 

167 

12.4 

10.0 

73.0 

19.0 

Bluestone  creek  

191 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

1012  W  P— VOL  16  4T>  705 


46 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Table  of  estimated  flow  and  power — Continued. 


River  and  place. 

d 
•a 
tn 

<£> 
fat 
tS 

a 

°c3 

A 

Rainfall. 

Flow,  per  second. 

Horse-power  available,  1  foot  fall,  gross. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

1 
< 

"Winter. 

Tear. 

Minimum. 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

Low  season,  dry 
years. 

i 
1 

.9 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

Low  season,  dry 
years. 

Sq.  miles. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Cu.ft. 

Ou.fl. 

Cu.ft. 

Cu.ft 

"Ward's  fork  (Little  Roanoke)   

85 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

Falling  river  .'  

213 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

365 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

51 

73 

321 

83 

'  5.8 

8.3 

36.5 

9.4 

Goose  river  -•  

280 

12 

10-12 

10 

10 

42-44 

39 

56 

246 

64 

4.5 

6.3 

28.0 

7.2 

413 

12 

10-12 

.  10 

10 

42-44 

58 

82 

363 

94 

6.6 

9.3 

41.3 

10.7 

313 

12 

10-12 

.  10 

10 

42-44 

44 

62 

275 

71 

5.0 

7.1 

31.3 

8.1 

Eoanolce  river  and  tributaries — Table  of  power  utilized. 


Name  of  stream. 


Roanoke  river  . 


Tributaries  of  . 


Dan  river. 


Hyco  river. 


Bannister  river . 


Smith's  river. 


Mayo  river  

Other  tributaries  of. 
70G 


Tributary  to  what. 


Albemarle  sound 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Roanoke  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Bo  

Do  

Do  

Do.  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Do... 
Dan  river. 
Do  .. 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do  .. 
Do... 
Do... 
Do ... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do  .. 
Do... 
Do 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 


State. 


North  Carolina 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Virginia  

 do  

North  Carolina 

 do  

......do  

 do  

 do  

....  do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Virginia  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


North  Carolina  . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

Virginia  

.....do  

....  do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina  . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Virginia  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina . 

Virginia  

North  Carolina  . 
 do  


County. 


Bertie  

Northampton 

Halifax  

 do  

 do  ....... 

 do  

Mecklenburg . 

 do  

"Washington  . . 

Bertie  . . 

 do  ....... 

Martin  

....  do  

Northampton . 

"Warren  

 do  

Granville  

 do  

 do  

Mecklenburg  . 

 do 

 do  ....... 

Halifax  

Pittsylvania . . 

 do  

 do  


Kind  of  milk 


Stokes  

Person  

 do  

Caswell  

Halifax  

 do  

Pittsylvania . 

Halifax  

 do  

 do  

Rockingham . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Henry  

 do  

Patrick  

Rockingham. 

Patrick  

Granville  

 do  


Saw  

Hour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Foundry  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

... .  do  

Saw  

. .  do  

Flour  and  grist  

..do  

. .  do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Tobacco   

Saw  

...  do  ;  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do*  

Saw  and  planing  

Foundry  and  machine- 
shop. 

Flour  and  grist  

....do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

....do  f-mn 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Tobacco  

Cotton  factory  

"Woolen  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Millwrighting  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

...do   £, 

...do  

Saw  


No.  of  mills. 

Totalfallused. 

Total  horse- 
power used. 

Feet. 

1 

30 

2 

16 

76 

3 

54 

110 

1 

18 

10 

2 

36 

15 

1 

18 

15 

2 

111 

41 

2 

111 

41 

2 

18 

22 

4 

341 

67 

2 

16 

35 

2 

19 

42 

3 

29 

40 

3 

29 

32 

7 

111 

178 

4 

54 

82 

13 

178J 

163 

1 

10 

8 

4 

591 

62 

8 

110 

171 

17 

260 

331 

1 

31 

16 

3 

21 

60 

2 

25 

65 

1 

7 

50 

2 

17 

70 

2 

25 

38 

2 

26 

34 

2 

26 

26 

3 

41 

44 

2 

18 

35 

1 

8 

20 

2 

24 

40 

3 

35 

148 

1 

10 

20 

1 

10 

18 

1 

36 

175? 

1 

30 

50  T 

1 

28 

50 

1 

12 

20 

1 

28 

35 

2 

20 

6C 

3 

46 

83 

1 

13 

20 

1 

20 

20 

1 

15 

16 

3 

46 

40 

2 

S3 

30 

SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 
Table  of  power  utilized — Continued. 


47 


Name  of  stream. 


Other  tributaries  of. 


8taunton  . 


Little  Roanoke  

Falling  creek  , 

Otter  river  

Goose  river  

Pig  rivor  

Blackwater  river  

Other  tributaries  of 


Tributary  to  what. 


Dan  river. 
Do... 
Do... 
Do  .. 
Do... 


Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do 
Do. 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 


Do  . 

Do.. 
Roanoke. 

Do.. 

Do  . 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do  . 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do  . 

Do.. 

Do.. 
Staunton . 

Do  . 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do  . 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do  . 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

Do.. 

D»  .., 

Do.. 


State. 


North  Carolina 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


 do.. 

 do  . . 

 do.. 

 do.. 

 do  . . 

Virginia . 

 do  .. 

 do  .. 

,  do.. 


.do  . 

.do 

.do. 

.do 

.do 

.do  . 
-do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 
-de  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do  . 
do  . 
.do  . 


County. 


Person . . 

 do  . 

Caswell . 

 do  . 

 do. 


Rockingham. 
 do  

...:..do  ...... 

Stokes  

 do  

Halifax  

 do  

 do  

 do  


Pittsylvania . 

 do  ...... 

Henry  

 do  

 do  


■  do   Montgomery 


 do  

Patrick  

Halifax  

 do  

Charlotte  

Campbell  

Bedford  

 do  

Pittsylvania  . 

Roanoke  

 do  

Montgomery. 

 do  

 do  

Charlotte  

 do  

Campbell  

 do  

Appomattox  . 

 do  

Bedford  

 do  

 do  

Campbell  

Bedford  

 do  

Franklin  

 do  

 do  

  do  

Halifax  

Charlotte  

 do  

Campbell  

 do  

Bedford  

 do  

Pittsylvania . 

 do  

Franklin  

 do  

 do  

Roanoke  

 do  

 do  , 

 do  


Kind  ot  mill. 


Saw  

Flour  and  grist '.  

...do   

Saw  

Agricultural  imple- 
ments. 

Flour  and  grist  '. 

Saw  

Blacksmithing  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Foundry  

Agricultural  imple- 
ments. 

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  


Agricultural 
ments. 


implc- 


Leather  

Flour  and  grist . . 

....do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . . 

....do   

....do  

Saw  

....do   

...do   

Flour  and  grist . . 

...do  

Saw.  

Furniture  

Flour  and  grist . . 

Saw  

Foundry   

Flour  and  grist . . 

..  do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . . 

Saw  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist . . 

. . .  .do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . . 

...  do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . . 

Saw  

. .  do  

Flour  and  grist . . 
"Wheel  wrighting. 
Flour  and  grist . . 

Saw  

Foundry  

Fertilizers  

Flour  and  grist . . 


No.  of  mills. 

Total  fall  used. 

Total  horse- 
power used. 

Feet. 

4 

65 

6 

89 

92 

14 

176 

216 

g 

82 

126 

2 

32 

30 

12 

169J 

203 

9 

120+  145 

1 

l  n 
XV 

ft 
D 

18 

2G4 

ZOO 

fj 

ggl 

130 

19 

344 

354 

243 

1 

8 

8 

3 

oi 

9i 
£A 

18 

307 

412 

4 

77 

70 

19 

331 

241 

6 

142 

121 

1 

17 

30 

•  1 

16 

6 

-  1 

15 

15 

1 

6 

12 

1 

14 

15 

1 

10 

25 

3 

Uh 

135 

2 

18 

20 

1 

3 

7 

1 

14 

12 

1 

10 

16 

3 

30 

60 

2 

25 

45 

1 

20 

1 

10 

C 

2 

10 

32 

1 

7 

18 

1 

10 

20 

3 

35 

79 

1 

12 

25 

1 

12 

25 

3 

44 

43 

3 

45 

35 

1 

1 

2 

25 

6 

77 

93 

4 

58 

32 

4 

62 

1 

16 

25 

2 

28 

22 

1 

9 

20 

6 

86 

111 

10 

199 

223 

2 

41 

36 

8 

1054 

238 

2 

26J 

60 

15 

229 

253 

10 

151 

136 

1 

18 

12 

2 

26 

36 

5 

80 

50 

21 

310 

30? 

1 

15 

4 

12 

176 

252 

8 

100 

105 

1 

7 

4 

1 

22 

15 

2 

21 

28 

707 


48 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


III.— THE  TAR  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  TAE  BIVEB, 

This  river  takes  its  rise  in  Person  and  Granville  counties,  North  Carolina,  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction 
through  Franklin,  Nash,  Edgecombe,  and  Pitt  counties,  and  empties  into  the  Pamlico  river,  in  Beaufort,  near  the 
town  of  Washington,  its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  being  about  120  miles,  and  by  the  river  perhaps  175.  The  principal 
towns  on  the  stream  are  Washington,  Greenville,  Tarboro',  Eocky  Mount,  and  Louisburg.  Tarboro',  53  miles  from 
Pamlico  river,  is  the  head  of  navigation,  and  it  is  hoped  to  secure  ultimately  a  channel  3  feet  in  depth  at  all  stages 
of  the  water  up  to  this  point,  but  at  present  this  depth  exists  only  during  nine  months  of  the  year.  The  obstructions 
to  navigation  consist  of  stumps,  snags,  fallen  trees,  and  artificial  obstructions  placed  there  during  the  war. 

The  river  drains  an  area  of  about  3,000  square  miles,  the  greater  part  of  which  lies  north  of  the  stream,  from 
which  side  the  principal  tributaries — Swift  and  Fishing  creeks — enter,  draining,  respectively,  340  and  760  square 
miles.  The  stream  crosses  the  fall-line  at  Eocky  Mount,  below  which  point  there  is  no  water-power.  The  general 
character  of  the  drainage-basin  resembles  that  of  the  Eoanoke.  The  leading  productions  are  tobacco,  corn,  and 
cotton,  most  of  the  cotton  being  raised  in  the  eastern  part,  and  most  of  the  tobacco  in  the  western.  There  are  no 
lakes  in  the  basin.  The  bed  of  the  stream  above  the  fall-line  is  rock  in  places,  but  generally  sand,  clay,  gravel,  or 
mud,  the  declivity  of  the  stream  being  quite  uniform.  Above  Eocky  Mount  the  bottoms  are  narrower  than  on  the 
Eoanoke,  and  the  banks  are  generally  high  enough  to  confine  the  river,  except  in  very  heavy  freshets.  Below  Eocky 
Mount  the  banks  are  often  overflowed,  the  river  rising  sometimes  25  feet  at  Tarboro'. 

The  average  annual  rainfall  on  the  basin  of  the  Tar  is  about  50  inches,  but  above  the  tall-line  it  is  less — about 
46  or  48  incites,  distributed  nearly  as  follows:  Spring,  12;  summer,  14;  autumn,  10;  winter,  11. 

The  fall  of  the  stream  below  Eocky  Mount  is  said  not  to  exceed  1  or  1£  feet  per  mile,  making  the  total  fall  below 
that  point  between  50  and  75  feet.  The  elevation  of  the  stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Ealeigh  and  Gaston  railroad  is 
188  feet,*  making  the  fall  between  that  point  and  the  head  of  the  fall  at  Eocky  Mount  about  2  feet  to  the  mile  or 
less,  the  distance  being  in  the  neighborhood  of  60  miles.    No  gaugings  of  the  stream  are  on  record. 

Ascending  the  stream  the  water-powers  met  with  are  as  follows: 

Battle's  cotton  factory,  at  Eocky  Mount,  known  as  the  Eocky  Mount  mill,  is  situated  on  the  fall-line.  The 
dam  extends  entirely  across  the  river  in  a  broken  line,  part  being  artificial,  and  part  natural  rock.  The  artificial 
part  is  of  granite,  600  feet  long,  and  averaging  9.2  feet  in  height,  and  was  built  in  1854  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  It  backs 
the  water  up  only  a  very  few  hundred  feet,  forming  no  pond  of  any  consequence  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  solid 
rock  and  the  banks  moderately  high,  affording  safe  building-sites.  There  is  considerable  fall  in  the  stream  for  several 
hundred  yards  above  the  dam,  which  could  probably  be  raised  some  four  feet  or  so  without  doing  any  damage,  and 
backing  the  water  up  to  the  head  of  a  slight  rift  called  Goodson's  falls  (half  a  mile  above  the  dam),  above  which  the 
river  is  sluggish  for  a  long  distance.  A  race  191  feet  long  leads  from  the  dam  to  the  cotton  factory,  where  a  head 
and  fall  of  16  feet  10  inches  is  used,  with  a  turbine-wheel  giving  155  horse-power.  No  steam-power  is  used,  the  water- 
power  being  ample,  and  there  being  an  excess  of  water  at  all  times,  except  in  very  low  stages  of  the  river.  In 
addition  to  the  cotton  factory  there  is  a  grist-  and  flour- mill  located  at  the  dam,  run  by  two  overshot  wheels,  with  14J 
feet  fall  and  about  40  horse-power;  also  a  saw-mill  run  by  a  turbine-wheel,  with  12  feet  fall  and  about  30  horse- 
power, and  a  second  turbine- wheel,  running  a  cotton-gin,  with  about  10  horse-power.  The  total  power  used  at  this 
place  is  therefore  about  235  horse-power.  It  is  said  that  the  first  cotton  mill  iu  the  state  of  North  Carolina  was 
built  at  this  place  in  1817. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  place  is  about  768  square  miles,  and  the  mean  annual  rainfall  about  47  inches, 
already  stated.  No  gaugings  of  the  river  having  been  made,  I  have  been  obliged  to  estimate  the  flow  and  the  power 
with  the  results  given  in  the  following  table.    The  total  available  fall  may  be  taken  as  20  feet: 

Power  on  the  Tar  river  at  Rocky  Mount. 


Character  of  flow,  (seepages  18  to  21. 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  ... 
Maximum,  with  storage. 
Low  season,  dry  years. . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall  i  Flow  Per 
*aLl-  '  setond. 


20 


Available  horse-power,  gross. 


Cubic  feet. 

1  footfall. 

16§  foot  fall. 

20  footfall. 

U  125 

14.0 

235 

280 

150 

17.0 

280 

340 

073 

76.8 

1,293 

1,536 

I  170 

19.2 

323 

384 

Utilized. 

Per  cent,  of 

Horse- 
power, net. 

Fall. 

minimum 
utilized. 

Feet. 

|  235 

12-1GJ 

133 

*  For  the  elevations  on  the  Raleigh  and  Gaston  railroad  and  the  Ealeigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad  I  am  indebted  to  the  general 
manager,  Mr.  John  C.  Winder. 
708 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  49 

la  very  low  stages  of  the  river  the  water  is  drawn  down  in  the  pond  be.low  the  crest  of  the  dam  sometimes  to 
the  extent  of  6  inches;  but  as  the  pond  is  very  small,  this  does  not  indicate  that  the  power  used  is  much  in  excess  of 
that  due  to  the  natural  flow,  but  only  that  the  latter  is  completely  utilized.  Neither  is  Mr.  Battle  troubled,  to  any 
great  extent,  by  freshets,  being  only  obliged  to  stop  at  most  a  few  days  in  the  year.  The  dam  was  partially  carried 
away  in  1875,  but  no  great  damage  was  done.    There  is  never  any  trouble  with  ice. 

The  estimates  given  in  the  above  table  for  the  power  available,  with  storage,  although  it  might  be  approximated 
to  in  the  case  of  the  Tar,  whose  drainage-basin  is,  in  the  upper  parts,  favorable  in  places  for  the  construction  of 
reservoirs,  according  to  Professor  Kerr,  yet  the  use  of  this  method  of  increasing  the  power  would  probably,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  Roanoke,  be  found  expensive  and  impracticable,  on  account  of  the  necessity  of  overflowing  lands 
which  are  the  most  fertile  and  the  best  adapted  to  cultivation  in  the  whole  basin,  and  on  account  of  the  distance 
of  the  reservoir-sites  from  the  fall-line.  As  the  factory  is  almost  on  the  line  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon 
railroad,  the  facilities  for  transport  are  excellent.  Although  the  health  of  this  part  of  the  state  is  not  so  good  as 
that  of  the  western  part,  no  great  difficulty  is  experienced  on  this  account. 

Above  Battle's  the  river  is  sluggish  for  some  distance,  after  which  the  fall  becomes  considerably  greater.  On 
the  upper  part  of  the  river  there  are  only  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and  there  are  no  sites  of  importance  not  used, 
although  on  the  upper  part  of  the  stream,  and  on  its  tributaries,  there  are  many  places  where  power  could  be 
obtained  by  damming. 

Between  Mr.  Battle's  and  Louisburg  there  are  two  small  grist-mills  and  gins ;  the  lower  one  a  small  mill  with 
8  feet  fall,  the  dam  being  215  feet  long  and  6  feet  high,  built  of  wood,  at  a  cost  of  $600,  and  throwing  the  water 
back  1J  miles;  and  the  upper  one,  that  of  Mr.  N.  R.  Strickland,  a  saw-  and  grist-mill,  with  a  dam  of  wood  and  stone 
180  feet  long,  7  feet  high,  and  costing  $1,000,  and  backing  the  water  7  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  150  feet. 
At  this  mill  a  fall  of  7  feet  is  used,  and  about  50  horse-power,  net,  with  a  waste  of  water  all  the  time,  except  in 
times  of  extreme  drought. 

At  Louisburg  Col.  J.  F.  Jones  has  a  saw-  and  grist-mill  using  8  feet  fall  and  running  full  capacity  all  the  time, 
with  water  wasting.  The  dam  is  of  rock,  250  feet  long  and  8  feet  high,  throwing  the  water  back  2  uliles,  with  an 
average  width  of  150  feet  ;  a  power  of  about  65  or  75  horse-power  is  said  to  be  used. 

Above  this  there  are  no  mills  of  importance.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  water-power  of  the  Tar  river  does  not 
amount  to  much,  being  almost  all  obtained  by  damming,  and  there  being  no  fall  of  any  consequence  except  that 
at  Battle's. 


Tar  river — Summary  of  power. 


p 
o 

Kainfall. 

Total  fall. 

Horse-power  available,  gross,  t 

Utilized. 

a 
p 

1 

J 

Locality. 

Distance  from  T: 

s 

a 

a 
Sx 
ce 
a 
"3 

H 

Q 

Spring. 

Summer. 

a 

a 

0 

<J 

Winter. 

Tear. 

Height. 

Length. 

1 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

Low  season,  dry 
years. 

■£ 

a 

O 

© 
m 
u 

tS 

Fall. 

Per  cent,  of  mil 
utilized. 

Remarks. 

Miles. 

Sq.  mi. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Feet. 

Feet. 

Feet. 

Battle's  mills  

20  ± 

768 

] 

■  20 

2,  800 

280 

340 

1,536 

384 

235 

16.  83 

133 

Only  natural 
fall  on  river. 

Vivaratti's  mill  

34  ± 

615 

>  12 

14 

10 

11 

47 

8 

80 

100 
85 
60 

480 
390 
300 

115 
97 
69 

8.  00 

Mill  at  dam. 

46  ± 

565 

7 

66 

50 
60 

7.  00 

8.  00 

150 

Louisburg  

75  ± 

383 

8 

45 

•Between  head  of  Battle's 

r  28± 

768 

shoal, 

1- 

14 

10 

11 

47 

110  + 

Miles. 
60  ± 

970 

1,200 

5,700 

1,  375 

23. 00 

and  Raleigh  and  Gaston 

railroad  

l  90  ± 

270 

*  These  figures  are  too  inexact  to  be  of  any  practical  value,  and  moreover  these  amounts  of  power  are  not  practically  available. 
tSee  pages  18  to  21. 

TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  TAR  RIVER. 


Fishing  creek  is  the  first  important  tributary  met  with  in  ascending  the  stream.  It  rises  in  Warren  county, 
forms  for  some  distance  the  boundary-line  between  Halifax,  on  the  north,  and  Nash  and  Edgecombe  on  the  south, 
and  empties  into  the  Tar  in  the  latter  county.  Its  length,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  50  miles,  and  its 
drainage  area  760  square  miles.  Its  only  tributary  worth  mentioning  is  Little  Fishing  creek,  which  enters  from  the 
north.  The  stream  crosses  the  fall-line  near  Enfield,  and  the  general  character  of  its  drainage-basin  is  the  same  as 
that  of  the  Tar  river.  The  water-power  of  the  stream  is  not  extensive,  and  is  used  for  saw-  and  grist-mills,  cotton- 
gins,  and  one  cotton  factory. 

The  first  power  is  that  of  Dr.  J.  T.  Bellamy,  at  the  fall-line,  4  miles  from  Enfield,  where  there  are  a  saw-  and 
grist-mill,  gin,  and  cotton-yarn  mill.    The  dam  is  of  stone,  built  in  1857,  at  a  cost  of  $9,000,  and  is  160  feet  long 

709 


50 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  12  feet  high,  backing  the  water  about  3  miles,  and  overflowing  some  200  acres  of  swamp-land  to  an  average 
depth  of  perhaps  7  or  8  feet.  At  one  end  of  the  dam  is  the  cotton  factory,  and  at  the  other  the  saw-  and  grist-mills, 
all  using  a  fall  of  12  feet  and  a  total  of  about  50  horse-power,  of  which  the  factory  uses  perhaps  30,  with  a  turbine- 
wheel,  and  with  always  a  waste  of  water.  The  drainage  area  above  this  place  being  about  500  square  miles,  and 
the  rainfall  47  inches,  I  would  judge  the  available  power  to  be  at  least  100  horse-power  in  the  low  season  of  dry 
years,  125  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years,  and  twice  that  amount,  or  more,  during  nine  months — these  powers 
being  gross,  but  doubtless  capable  of  being  increased  to  a  very  large  extent  by  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond 
during  working  hours.    This  site  is  4  miles  from  the  railroad. 

The  next  power  is  that  of  William  Burnett,  6  miles  west  of  the  railroad,  at  Millbrook.  The  dam  is  wood  (crib- 
work),  filled  with  stone,  260  feet  long  and  8  feet  high,  backing  the  water  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  but  not 
throwing  it  out  of  its  banks.  A  race  60  feet  long  leads  to  the  mill — a  grist-  and  saw-mill — where  a  fall  of  5  feet  (?) 
is  used.  The  amount  of  water  in  the  stream  here  is  probably  about  the  same  as  at  Bellamy's.  If  the  available 
fall  is  8  feet,  the  available  power  is  therefore  about  two-thirds  of  that  at  the  latter  place.  The  bed  of  the  river 
here  is  rock,  and  very  favorable  for  a  dam. 

The  remaining  powers  on  this  creek  and  its  tributaries  are  not  worthy  of  special  mention.  They  are  included 
in  the  table  below.   The  grist-mills  generally  have  one,  two,  or  three  run  of  stones. 

On  the  whole,  as  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  the  stream  is  not  of  much  value  for  water-power,  on  account  of 
its  small  fall  and  its  variable  flow.  I  heard  of  no  good  sites  not  used,  but  there  are  probably  places  where  a  certain 
amount  of  power  could  be  obtained  by  damming. 

Swift  creek  rises  in  Warren  and  Granville  counties,  where  it  is  called  Sandy  creek;  flows  through  Franklin, 
Fash,  and  Edgecombe,  joining  the  Tar  about  7  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Fishing  creek,  its  length,  in  a  straight 
line,  being  about  50  miles,  and  draining  an  area  of  about  350  square  miles.  In  general  character  it  is  similar 
to  Fishing  creek,  but  is  said  to  be  more  sluggish,  and  to  have  lower  banks.  Its  water-power  is  not  valuable,  and  I 
heard  of  no  sites  not  occupied.  The  power  utilized  will  be  found  in  the  table.  The  mills  are  saw-  and  grist-mills, 
cotton-gins,  and  one  cotton-yarn  factory,  at  Laurel,  belonging  to  Col.  J.  F.  Jones.  The  latter  is  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  utilized  powers.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  100  feet  long,  5  feet  high,  backing  the  water  one 
mile,  and  giving  a  fall  of  12  feet,  with  a  race  60  feet  long.  The  power  is  used  for  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  and  for  a 
cotton-yarn  factory,  with  612  spindles,  using  perhaps,  in  all,  30  or  40  horse-power. 

The  remaining  tributaries  to  the  Tar  river  are  of  no  importance,  and  the  only  mills  on  them  are  small  saw-mills 
and  grist-mills  with  one  or  two  run  of  stones.  The  smaller  streams  nearly  dry  up  in  summer,  and  many  of  the 
mills  have  to  stop  grinding.  The  table  for  the  utilized  power  of  the  Tar  and  its  tributaries  is  compiled  from  the 
returns  of  the  enumerators : 

Table  of  power  utilized  on-  Tar  river  and  its  tributaries. 


Stream. 


Tar  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

ITishing  creek  

Do  

Do  

Do  .  

Swift  creek  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of . 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


710 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


Pamplico  river. 

 do  

 do  

 do   

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Tar  river  

 do  

 do  

 do  ,  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  .  .  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


North  Carolina 

 do  


do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 

do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 

do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 

do  . 
.do  . 

do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 
.do 
.do 


County. 


Nash  

...do   

...do  

...do  

Franklin  

...do   

Granville  . . . 

...do  

Halifax  

...do  

...do   

Warren  

Edgecombe . 

Nash  

Franklin  

..do  

...do  

Warren . 

Pitt  

...do  

Edgecombe . 

....do   

Halifax  

Nash  

...do   

...do  


Kind  of  mill. 


Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  .. 

Saw  1  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

 do   

 do  

 do  

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

 do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

 do  

Saw  

Agricultural  imple- 
ments. 


•a 


Feet. 
17 


12 
27 


90 
65 
12 
19 
19 
100 
7 
19 
30 
12 
12 
90 
29 
14 
35 


62 
27 
8 


2  » 

^  V 


155 
85 
30 
22 
40 
25 

153 
98 
30 
40 
40 

148 
30 
35 
53 
15 
20 

211 
74 
84 
75 
49 
07 
08 
12 
12 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  of  power  utilized  on  Tar  river  and  its  tributaries — Continued. 


51 


Stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


o5 

sed, 

£>  . 

§"8 

3 

3 

q 

--1 

1 

■§1 

f-t 

« 

—i  b- 

1° 

d 

O 

H 

H 

Feet. 

1 

7 

4 

14 

234 

251 

9 

135 

163 

2 

22 

18 

1 

15 

10 

5 

106 

112 

1 

15 

20 

11 

133 

186 

6 

91 

108 

Other  tributaries  of. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tar. 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 


North  Carolina 


Nash 


.do   Franklin 


.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 


...do   

...do   

...do  

Warren . . . 

...do   

Granville . 
...do   


Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Leather  

Flour  and  grist 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist 
Saw  


IV. — THE  NEUSE  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


Drainage-basin  of  the  Neuse  river,  North  Carolina. 

DRAINAGE  AEEAS. 

Square  miles. 


Neuse  river,  at  mouth   5, 299 

Neuse  river,  at  New  Berne   4, 250 

Neuse  river,  at  Goldsboro'   2, 451 

Neuse  river,  at  Smitbfield   1 , 317 

Neuse  river,  at  Milburny   995 

Neuse  river,  at  paper-mill   890 

Contentnea  creek,  at  mouth   991 

Little  river,  at  mouth   326 

Little  river,  at  Lowell   195 

Flat  river,  at  mouth   166 

Little  river,  at  mouth  .'   130 

Eno  river,  at  mouth   134 


THE  NEUSE  EIVER. 

The  Neuse  ri\  er  is  formed  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Wake  county,  North  Carolina,  by  the  union  of  three 
small  streams,  the  Eno,  Flat,  and  Little  rivers,  which  themselves  take  their  rise  in  Person  and  Orange  counties. 
The  Neuse  flows  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  through  Wake,  Johnston,  Wayne,  Lenoir,  and  Craven  counties, 
emptying  into  Pamlico  sound  below  New  Berne,  its  general  course,  in  its  lower  and  navigable  portion,  being  more 
nearly  east.  It  forms  for  a  short  distance  the  boundary  between  Granville  and  Wake  counties,  and,  near  its  mouth, 
between  Lenoir,  Pitt,  and  Pamlico  on  its  left  and  Craven  on  its  right.  Its  length  above  New  Berne,  measured 
in  a  straight  line,  is  about  150  miles,  but  it  is  much  greater  following  the  river,  which  is  very  tortuous  in  places. 
The  principal  towns  on  the  stream,  are  New  Berne  (population  6,443),  Kinston  (population  1,216),  Goldsboro' 
(population  1,933),  Smithfleld,  and  Hillsboro',  the  last  being  on  the  Eno.  The  head  of  navigation  on  the  river  is 
Smithfield,  about  160  miles  above  New  Berne,  and  the  government  is  now  engaged  in  improving  the  river  up  to 
this  point.  At  present  there  is  a  navigable  depth  of  3  feet  as  far  as  Goldsboro'  (97£  miles  above  New  Berne) 
during  eight  or  nine  months  of  the  year. 

The  area  drained  by  the  Neuse  comprises  about  5,300  square  miles.  That  part  above  New  Berne  measures 
about  4,250  square  miles.  The  principal  tributaries  of  the  river  enter  from  the  north,  viz:  the  Contentnea  creek 
(mouth  about  30  miles  above  New  Berne)  and  Little  river  (mouth  just  above  Goldsboro',  97£  miles  above  New 
Berne),  draining,  respectively,  about  990  and  325  square  miles,  approximately.  The  river  crosses  the  fall  line  near 
Smithfleld,  and  below  that  point  there  is  no  water-power.  The  fall  at  Smithfleld,  however,  is  not  very  great,  and 
the  fall-line  is  less  prominent  than  in  the  case  of  the  Roanoke  and  the  Tar,  the  ledge  of  rock,  forming  the  falls  at 
Weldon  and  Rocky  Mount,  showing  itself  only  very  slightly  on  the  Neuse. 

Below  Goldsboro'  the  river  flows  through  a  low,  heavily-timbered  country,  and  is  very  like  the  Roanoke  in 
general  character.  The  soil  is  alluvial— clay,  sand,  and  marl;  the  bauks  from  3  to  20  feet  high ;  the  country  covered 
with  extensive  pine  forests  and  cypress  swamps,  and  the  staple  product  cotton.  Some  of  the  bottoms  have  been 
reclaimed  by  the  use  of  dikes.  Below  Contentnea  creek  the  banks  and  adjacent  bottoms  are  only  a  few  inches 
above  low  water,  and  the  floods  reach  a  height  of  12  feet,  covering  large  areas.  The  channel  is  very  tortuous,  cut- 
offs are  often  formed,  and  the  navigation  difficult.  Above  Smithfield  the  drainage-basin  presents  no  peculiarities 
that  have  not  been  referred  to  in  speakiug  of  the  Roanoke  and  Tar.    The  map  will  show  its  form  and  dimensions. 

711 


52 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  the  upper  part  of  the  valley  a  fine  quality  of  granite  is  quarried,  and  in  the  lower  part,  not  far  above  New  Berne, 
a  marl  is  found  which  is  said  to  be  a  very  good  building-stone,  being  quite  soft  wben  quarried,  but  becomiug  very 
hard  on  exposure.    In  fact,  there  is  no  lack  of  building  material  in  the  valleys  of  the  Neuse,  Tar,  or  Boanoke, 

As  regards  bed,  banks,  and  freshets,  the  river  is  similar  to  the  Eoanoke,  except  that  the  bottoms  are  said  to  be 
less  extensive  (above  Smithfield)  and  the  freshets  not  so  sudden  nor  violent,  seldom  endangering  dams.  Trouble 
with  ice  is  very  rare.  There  are  no  lakes  or  artificial  reservoirs,  but  there  are  facilities  for  the  latter  on  the  upper 
tributaries. 

The  rainfall  is  47  inches — 12  in  spring,  14  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  11  in  winter,  approximately. 

The  fall  of  the  river  below  Smithfield  is  very  small,  its  elevation  at  that  point  being  in  the  neighborhood  of 
100  feet.  At  the  crossing  of  the  Ealeigh  and  Gaston  railroad,  some  35  miles  farther  up,  the  elevation  is  about  170 
feet,  making  the  fall  between  those  points  at  the  rate  of  2  feet  to  the  mile.  Professor  Kerr  states  that  the  total 
fall,  from  the  northwest  corner  of  Wake  county,  about  32  miles  above  the  railroad  crossing,  to  tide,  is  about  340 
feet  ;  it  seems,  however,  scarcely  probable  that  the  fall  in  these  32  miles  can  be  at  the  rate  of  5.3  feet  to  the  mile. 

WATER-POWERS. 

The  first  site  for  power  in  ascending  the  river  is  at  Smithfield,  at  the  fall-line,  and  it  is  said  that  there  was 
once  a  mill  there,  although  it  is  now  gone.  Although  some  power  might  be  obtained  at  the  place,  the  site  is  not  a 
favorable  one.    The  river  at  Smithfield  is  130  feet  wide. 

The  next  site,  and  the  first  one  of  importance,  is  at  Milburny  or  Neuse  mills,  about  25  miles  above  Smithfield 
and  6  or  7  miles  from  Ealeigh,  formerly  improved,  but  at  present  idle.  The  available  fall  here  is  about  12J  feet, 
with  a.  dam  8  feet  high  and  a  race  150  feet  long.  Such  a  dam,  it  is  said,  would  pond  the  water  for  several  miles. 
It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  fall  here  is  not  very  pronounced,  and  it  seems  strange  that  there  is  no  large  fall 
on  the  river  below  this  point.  It  seems  probable,  moreover,  that  power  might  be  got  below  by  damming,  but  it  is 
said  that  there  are  no  favorable  places  where  a  dam  could  be  built  without  trouble  by  overflowing  land  above.  At 
Milburny  the  bed  is  solid  rock,  very  favorable  for  a  dam,  and  the  race  had  to  be  blasted  out.  The  banks  are  abrupt 
on  the  right,  but  not  so  much  so  on  the  left,  and  the  location  is  said  to  be  a  safe  one.  The  power  was  formerly  used 
by  a  paper-mill  on  the  left  bank  and  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  on  the  other,  the  fall  utilized  being  12 J  feet;  but  the 
paper-mill  was  burnt,  and  the  dam,  not  being  taken  care  of,  is  gone.  The  building  of  the  grist-  and  saw-mill  is  still 
standing,  although  it  is  about  five  years  since  any  power  has  been  utilized.  It  is  expected,  however,  that  the  power 
will  be  again  utilized  in  a  short  time. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  site  is  about  1 ,000  square  miles.  Professor  Kerr  gauged  the  river  at  low  water, 
and  found  the  flow  to  be  about  193  cubic  feet  per  second,  giving  a  power  of  22  horse-power  per  foot  fall.  Estimates 
of  the  flow  and  power,  according  to  methods  already  referred  to,  result  as  follows : 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage  area. 

Fall. 

Flow,  per  sec- 
ond. 

Horse  -  power, 
gross. 

Horse  -  power, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 
1,  000 

Feet. 

12i 

Cubic  feet. 

160 
175 

<J  750 
100 
195 

Per  footfall. 

18.2 
20.0 
85.2 
21.8 
22.0 

Per  12$  feet  fall. 

227 
250 
1,065 
272 
275 

"  Low  water",  Professor  Kerr  ■  

By  storing  the  water  during  the  night  this  power  could  be  greatly  increased,  but  whether  such  storage  would 
be  practicable  I  cannot  say,  not  knowing  the  dimensions  of  the  pond. 

This  power,  as  before  remarked,  is  6  or  7  miles  from  Ealeigh,  from  which  point  railroads  diverge  in  four 
directions. 

The  next  power  on  the  river  is  the  paper-mill  of  the  Falls  of  Neuse  Manufacturing  Company,  leased  to  W.  F. 
Askew.  Between  this  power  and  Milburny  there  was  formerly  an  oil-mill,  but  the  dam  is  said  to  have  caused  so 
much  trouble  by  overflow,  and  so  much  sickness  in  the  vicinity,  that  the  property  was  purchased  by  the  neighbors, 
and  the  mill  torn  down.  Mr.  Askew's  paper-mill  is  at  Falls  of  Neuse,  3  miles  above  the  Ealeigh  and  Gaston  railroad, 
and  13  miles  north  of  Ealeigh.  The  dam,  which  extends  entirely  across  the  river,  is  of  wood,  about  400  feet  long 
and  6  feet  high,  backing  the  water  about  10  miles,  the  depth  averaging  perhaps  8  feet.  A  race  1,000  feet  long  leads 
to  the  mill,  where  there  is  a  fall  of  17  feet.  The  power  used  is  100  horse-power,  used  for  the  paper-mill  and  for  a 
grist-mill,  saw-mill,  and  cotton-gin,  but  this  power  can  only  be  obtained  during  eight  months  of  the  year,  owing 
to  leakage,  etc.    There  is  little  trouble  with  high  water. 

712 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


53 


The  draiuage  area  above  this  place  is  about  890  square  miles,  and  the  rainfall  42  to  44  inches.  Hence  the  power 
available,  per  foot,  would  be  about  eight-tenths  of  that  at  Milburny,  or,  in  round  numbers,  as  given  in  the  following 
table : 

Table  of  power  at  Falls  of  Neuse:* 


State  of  flow. 


Drainage  area. 


Fall. 


Flow,  per  sec- 
ond. 


Sq.  miles. 


Feet. 


Minimum   1 

Minimum  low  season    I 

Maximum,  with  storage   I 

Low  season,  dry  years  '•  ' 


£90 


Cubic  feet. 

128 
340 
C65 
152 


Horse-power. 


Per  footfall. 

14.5 
15.9 
75.5 
17.  2 


Horse-power. 


Pi r  17  feet  fall. 

245 
270 
1,283 
292 


Above  this  mill  there  are  no  powers  of  importance  on  the  river  so  far  as  I  could  learn.  It  seems  strange  that 
such  a  large  and  long  river  should  offer  so  little  power,  especially  in  a  section  of  country  which  abounds  so  largely 
in  water-power.    The  fact  that  there  is  no  power  on  the  fall-line  is  also  remarkable. 

The  following  table  gives  a  summary  of  the  powers  on  the  river  utilized  and  available: 

Neuse  River — Summary  of  power. 


Locality. 


Milburny  

Falls  of  Neuse  

C  Raleigh  and  Gaston  railroad 
Between  <  and 

( Smithfield  


Miles. 
25 

38 
35 


Sq.  in. 

1,000 
890 
9001 


0  !  1,317  J 


Rainfall. 


In. 


In.  i  In.    In.  In. 


13  10 


10  44 


Total  fall. 


Feet.  :  Miles. 
(    124  |. 

17  I  


70 


35 


Horse-power  available,  gross.t 


!  * 


227 
245 


1,400s 


3  » 
2£ 


250 
270 


1,  540* 


£2 


to  >. 


1.005 
1,283 


C,  550' 


272 
292 


1,  680' 


Total  utilized. 


I 

Feet.  ! 
0 
17 


*  Practically  of  no  value,  and,  in  fact,  not  available. 


f  See  pages  18  to  21. 


0 

100 


e  3 


0 
65 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  NEUSE  RIVER. 


Most  of  the  utilized  power  in  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Neuse  is  located  on  its  tributaries,  although  none  of 
them  are  large  enough  to  afford  very  large  powers. 

The  first  important  one  met  with  in  ascending  the  Neuse  is  the  Trent  river,  which  joins  the  Neuse  at  New  Berne. 
The  drainage-basin  of  the  Trent,  lying  entirely  below  the  fall-line  and  presenting  no  water-power  of  importance, 
need  not  be  further  considered. 

Tbe  next  important  tributary  is  Content  lea  creek,  from  the  north,  draining  an  area  of  about  990  square  miles, 
and  joining  the  Neuse  about  30  miles  above  New  Berne.  This  stream  has  its  sources  above  the  fall-line,  in  Franklin 
county,  where  it  is  called  Moccasin  creek;  thence,  flowing  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  it  forms  the  boundary-line 
between  Franklin  and  Nash  counties  on  the  north  aud  Wake  and  Johnston  on  the  south,  flows  through  Wilson  and 
Greene  counties,  and  finally  joins  the  Neuse,  after  forming  for  6  or  7  miles  the  boundary  between  Pitt  and  Lenoir 
counties.  It  crosses  the  fall  line,  in  Wilson  county,  about  at  the  point  where  it  changes  its  name  to  Contentnea; 
but,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Neuse,  there  seems  to  be  no  decided  fall  in  the  stream  at  this  point.  Above  the  fall-line 
it  partakes  of  the  general  character  of  Swift  and  Fishing  creeks,  previously  described,  and  it  affords  no  water-power 
of  much  importance,  the  declivity  being  gradual.  There  is  probably  power  available  on  the  stream  which  can  be 
utilized  by  damming  at  suitable  places,  but  no  particular  sites  for  powers  were  brought  to  my  notice.  The  tributaries 
of  the  Contentnea  are  not  of  much  importance. 

The  next  important  tributary  is  Little  river,  which  rises  in  Franklin,  flows  southeast  through  Wake  and  Johnston, 
joining  the  Neuse  in  Wayne  county  2  or  3  miles  above  Goldsboro',  and  draining  an  area  of  about  325  square  miles, 
the  length  of  the  stream,  in  a  straight  line,  being  nearly  60  miles.    The  drainage-basin  is  long  and  narrow,  and  the 

*  See  pages  18  to  21.  According  to  all  I  can  learn  regarding  this  power,  I  am  inclined  to  regard  these  estimates  as  too  large, 
being  informed  that  it  is  sometimes  only  possible  to  ran  a  grist-mill  in  summer  for  several  weeks  at  a  time.  But  the  dam  is  very  leaky, 
aud  it  may  he  tbat  there  are  other  sources  of  loss.    Only  an  examination  of  the  place  can  tell. 

713 


54 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tributaries  of  no  consequence.  The  stream  crosses  the  fall-line,  but,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Neuse,  no  particular  fall 
occurs  at  that  place.  The  products  of  the  basin  are  principally  corn,  cotton,  cereals,  vegetables,  and  fruits,  and  the 
soil  fertile,  generally  sandy  and  loamy.  The  general  character  of  the  stream  does  not  differ  from  that  of  the 
tributaries  of  the  Tar.  The  banks  are  often  low  and  subject  to  overflow,  and  the  bed  is  generally  of  soft  material — 
mud,  sand,  etc.  The  declivity  is  quite  uniform,  and  no  important  sites  for  power  could  be  learned  of.  There  is 
some  power  already  utilized,  the  most  important  mill  being  the  cotton  factory  of  William  Edgerton,  at  Lowell,  abo  it 
.  where  the  stream  crosses  the  fall-line,  and  some  25  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  power  at  this  place  is  supplied  by  a 
wooden  dam,  built  some  thirty-three  years  ago,  about  80  feet  long  and  10  feet  high,  backing  the  water  4  miles,  with 
an  average  width  of  150  feet  and  an  average  depth  of  6  feet.  The  fall  used  is  10  feet,  and  the  number  of  horse- 
power 40,  which  can  be  obtained  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The  drainage  area  above  the  place  being  about  195 
square  imles,  and  the  rainfall  about  48  inches,  I  have  estimated  the  minimum  and  the  low-season  flow  in  dry  years 
at  about  18  and  25  cubic  feet  per  second,  respectively,  and  the  available  power,  with  a  fall  of  10  feet,  at  20  and  28 
horse-power.  With  storage  during  the  night  these  figures  could  be  increased,  and  this  may  easily  be  done  if  the 
pond  is  as  large  as  given  above.  Above  the  Lowell  factory,  on  Little  river,  are  only  small  saw-  and  grist-mills. 
The  water-power  of  the  stream  may  be  said  to  be,  in  general,  of  little  value. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Goldsboro'  there  are  several  small  spring  streams  which  are  said  to  afford  quite  constant 
powers,  but  none  of  them  have  sufficient  capacity  to  run  any  but  very  small  mills.  Such  are  Sleepy  creek  (mouth 
10  miles  below  Goldsboro')  and  Falling  creek  (mouth  10  miles  above  the  railroad  bridge).  On  these  streams  large 
storage  can  generally  be  obtained,  and  the  power  resulting  from  the  natural  flow  could  be  doubled  by  being 
concentrated  into  twelve  hours. 

The  other  tributaries  of  the  Neuse  below  the  junction  of  its  three  headwaters  have  numerous  small  grist-  antl 
saw-mills  and  occasionally  a  paper-mill,  all  of  which  are  here  tabulated.  Most  of  these  mills  have  to  stop  during 
the  summer  on  account  of  low  water. 

The  most  northerly  of  the  three  headwaters  referred  to  is  the  Flat  river,  which  rises  in  Person  county  and  flows 
southeast  through  a  corner  of  Orange,  having  a  total  length  of  some  25  miles  in  a  straight  line.  It  drains  an 
area  of  about  166  square  miles,  being  the  largest  of  the  three  streams,  has  a  considerable  fall,  and  is  well  suited 
for  the  development  of  small  powers.  The  power  utilized  is  given  in  the  table.  The  power  available  I  cannot 
estimate;  neither  could  I  obtain  information  regarding  any  particular  sites  not  used. 

Little  river  is  the  second  of  the  three  headwaters.  Eising  in  Orange  county,  with  perhaps  a  few  branches  in 
Person,  and  flowing  a  little  south  of  east  through  the  northern  part  of  Orange,  with  a  total  length,  in  a  straight 
line,  of  some  20  miles,  it  drains  an  area  of  about  130  square  miles.  None  of  these  streams  are  very  tortuous. 
Little  river  has  the  same  general  character  as  Flat  river,  and  its  power  is  utilized  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and  by 
one  cotton  factory — the  Orange  factory.  The  power  at  this  place  is  obtained  by  a  dam  of  stone  and  wood,  270  feet 
long  and  14  feet  high,  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  and  affording  a  fall,  at  the  factory,  of  17£  feet  and  furnishing  a  40 
horse-power.  In  summer  there  is  no  waste  of  water,  but  in  winter  it  generally  flows  over  the  dam.  I  estimate 
the  flow  of  this  stream  at  its  mouth  to  be  at  a  minimum  about  8,  and  at  its  low-season  flow,  in  dry  years,  12  cubic 
feet  per  second,  giving  powers  of  16  and  24  horse-power,  with  fall  of  17£  feet.  I  judge,  therefore,  that  the  pond 
at  Orange  factory  is  sufficiently  large  to  store  the  water  during  the  night  if  they  succeed  in  getting  full  capacity 
all  the  time.    The  above  estimate,  however,  may,  of  course,  be  far  from  correct. 

The  most  southerly  of  the  three  headwaters  of  the  Neuse  is  the  Eno,  rising  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Orange 
county,  flowing  first  nearly  south  and  then  nearly  east  through  the  county,  having  a  length  of  about  25  miles  in  a 
straight  line,  and  draining  an  area  of  about  134  square  miles.  It  is  similar  in  character  to  the  others,  and  its  power 
is  used  only  by  grist-  and  saw-mills,  some  of  which  are  obliged  to  stop  in  the  summer.  At  Hillsboro'  the  stream 
is  about  50  feet  wide,  and  will  probably  afford  not  more  than  8  or  9  cubic  feet  per  second  in  dry  years  during  the 
low  season,  and  probably  less,  or  about  1  horse-power  per  foot  fall.    The  utilized  power  is  given  in  the  table. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Neuse  river  possesses  a  small  amount  of  water-power  for  a  stream  of  its  size  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  The  lower  parts  of  the  river  and  the  tributaries  below  the  Ealeigh  and  Gaston  railroad  are 
not  very  favorable  for  power — the  river  on  account  of  its  gradual  fall  and  low  bank,  and  the  tributaries  because 
of  the  considerable  variability  in  their  flow.  Exceptions  are  found  in  the  case  of  some  tributaries  not  far  below  the 
fall-line,  which  are  fed  by  springs  and  keep  up  quite  well  during  the  summer,  belonging,  in  fact,  to  the  class  of  sand- 
hill streams,  of  which  we  shall  meet  more  noticeable  examples  in  the  case  of  the  tributaries  to  the  Cape  Fear  and 
Yadkin.  The  tributaries  in  the  upper  part  are  more  favorable,  have  a  greater  fall,  higher  bauks,  and  are  probably 
not  so  variable  in  their  flow.  Still,  there  are  no  such  sites  for  power  on  the  Neuse  river  as  are  found  on  the  Eoanoke, 
Tar,  or  on  streams  farther  south. 

714 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Neuse  river  and  tributaries — Table  of  power  utilized. 


55 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


^  S3 

(2* 


Neuse  river  

%m  Do  

Do...  

Contentnea  creek  (Moccasin). 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

All  tributaries  to  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

tattle  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

All  other  tributaries  to  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do....  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  ..... 

.  Do  

Flat  river  and  tributaries  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Little  river  and  tributaries . . . 

Do  -  

Do  

Do  

Eno  river  and  tributaries  

Do  ..  


Pamlico  sound  

...do  

...do   

Neuse  river  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

Contentnea  creek. 

...do  

...do  

...  do   ... 

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

Neuse  river  

...do   


.do 
.do 

do 

do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do 
.lo  . 
.do  . 

do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 

do  . 

do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 

do  . 
.do 

do  . 


North  Carolina  ;  "Wake  

...do  do  

 do  do  

. .  do   "Wilson  . . 

...do  do  

.  ..do  do  

. .  do    Johnston  . 

..  do  I  do  

 do  i  Greene  . . 

 do   Wilson  . . 

...do  . .."   do  

— do   do  

.. .do  1  Wayne  . . 


..do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  do  .. 
.  do  .. 
.  .do  .. 
..do.. 
.  do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  .do  .. 
..do.. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  do  .. 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  .do  . 
..do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  do  .. 
.  do  . . 
..do  .. 
.  do  .. 
..do  .. 
.  do  .. 
..do  .. 


...do  

Nash  

...do  

Johnston 

...do  

...do   

Wake  

Wayne . . . 

. . .  do  

.  do  

Johnston  . 

...do   

...do  

Pamlico  .. 

Jones  

Craven  ... 

...do   

Lenoir  

Wake 

...do  

..do  

Franklin  . 
Granville  . 

...do  

Orange  

...do   

Person  

...do   

Orange  . .. 

...do  

...  do  .  ... 

...do   

...do   

...do  .... 


Paper  , 

Flour  and  grist  

...  do  

...do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Woolen  

Agricult'l  implements 

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...  do  

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  r. 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

. .  do  

...  do  

..do  

...do  ... 

Box  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  


Feet. 
17 


8 

.133 
39 
8 
39 


27 
309 
120 


17 
271 
60 


V.— THE  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  CAPE  FEAR  EIVEE. 

This  river,  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Haw  and  Deep  rivers  in  Chatham  county,  North  Carolina,  flows  in 
a  southeasterly  direction  through  Harnett,  Cumberland,  Bladen,  and  Brunswick  counties,  and  for  a  short  distance 
between  Brunswick  and  New  Hanover,  and  empties  into  the  Atlantic  at  Cape  Fear.  Its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  is 
about  125  miles,  and  by  the  river  about  192.  The  principal  towns  on  the  stream  are  Wilmington,  30  miles  from  the 
mouth  (popidation  17,361) ;  Elizabeth,  the  county-seat  of  Bladen  county ;  Fayetteville,  the  county-seat  of  Cumberland 
county  (population  3,485);  Averysboro',  and  Lillington  (the  county-seat  of  Harnett  county)— the  two  latter  being 
small  towns  of  a  few  hundred  inhabitants.  Fayetteville  is  the  head  of  navigation  for  steamers  of  light  draft,  its 
distance  from  the  sea  being  1G0  miles  by  the  course  of  the  stream.  Considerable  money  has  been,  and  is  being, 
spent  by  the  government  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  river  below  Wilmington,  which  is  a  port  of 
the  entry,  and  present  project  contemplates  the  securing  of  a  navigable  depth  of  12  feet  at  mean  low  water  up  to 

715 


56 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


that  city ;  but  by  taking  proper  advantage  of  the  tides  14i  feet  can  be  carried  up  to  that  point.  The  average  range 
of  the  tides  at  Smithville,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  is  about  4  feet.  The  entrance  across  the  bar  to  the  harbor  at 
Smithville  can  be  made  by  vessels  drawing  17 \  feet  at  spring-tides. 

By  a  series  of  locks  and  dams  the  river  was  formerly  made  navigable  up  to  the  confluence  of  the  Haw  and  Deep 
rivers,  and  the  works  were  carried  for  some  distance  up  the  Deep  river.  These  old  navigation  works,  like  those  on 
the  Roanoke,  were  never  successful  from  a  financial  point  of  view,  and  before  long  went  into  disuse,  and  were 
abandoned.  Some  ten  years  ago,  however,  a  part  of  the  works  were  again  put  in  order,  and  navigation  again 
opened  between  Battle's  dam  and  Carbonton,  and  kept  open  lor  several  years  successfully.  But  at  present  they 
have  again  passed  into  disuse,  and  although  the  last  company  which  operated  them  is  still  in  existence  they  are 
practically  abandoned  so  far  as  navigation  is  concerned.* 

The  total  area  drained  by  the  Cape  Fear  is  about  S,400  square  miles,  of  which  the  Deep  river  drains  1,350,  the 
Haw  river  1,675,  and  the  Cape  Fear  proper  5,375.  The  principal  tributaries  of  the  river  below  the  forks  are :  From 
the  east,  in  order  as  the  river  is  ascended,  the  Northeast  Cape  Fear  river,  draining  1,330  square  miles,  and  entering 
the  Cape  Fear  about  20  miles  above  its  mouth;  the  Black  river,  draining  about  1,430  square  miles,  and  joining 
the  main  stream  about  30  miles  from  its  mouth  ;  and  from  the  west,  in  the  same  order,  Rockfish  creek,  draining  280 
square  miles,  and  emptying  10  miles  below  Fayetteville ;  Lower  Little  river,  draining  448  square  miles,  and  emptying 
about  25  miles  above  Fayetteville;  and  Upper  Little  river,  draining  about  176  square  miles,  and  emptying  about  30 
miles  above  Fayetteville. 

The  drainage-basin  of  the  Cape  Fear  proper,  without  the  basins  of  the  Deep  and  Haw,  resembles  that  of  the 
Roanoke.  The  river  is  crossed  by  the  fall-line  near  Averysboro',  about  27  or  28  miles  above  Fayetteville,  giving 
rise  to  Smiley's  falls,  which  is  yet  to  be  described.  The  rnap  of  the  basin  will  show  its  form  and  general  dimensions. 
The  elevations  of  the  water-sheds  between  the  Cape  Fear  and  the  adjacent  rivers  are  not  very  great,  and  the 
tributaries  do  not  afford  much  power,  except  in  places  where,  by  damming,  the  water  can  be  thrown  back  for 
considerable  distances  and  considerable  storage-room  obtained ;  but  the  fall  of  the  tributaries  is,  on  the  whole, 
small.  As  regards  soil,  vegetation,  and  building  material,  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Cape  Fear  resembles  that  of 
the  Roanoke,  and  need  not  be  described.  The  facilities  for  storage  in  that  part  below  the  junction  of  the  Haw  and 
Deep  rivers  will  probably  be  found  to  be  not  very  good  on  account  of  the  flatness  of  the  country,  and,  in  places,  of 
the  porosity  of  the  soil — resembling  in  this  respect,  also,  the  Roanoke.  Further  up,  in  the  valleys  of  Deep  and  Haw 
rivers,  the  storage  facilities  are  better.  As  regards  bed,  banks,  and  freshets,  the  stream  very  closely  resembles 
the  Roanoke,  although  the  bottoms  are  said  to  be  not  quite  so  extensive  as  on  the  latter  river.  Above  Averysboro7 
the  river  flows  through  an  alluvial  country,  with  banks  generally  low,  and  a  width  of  from  400  to  600  feet.  Below 
Averysboro'  the  river  is  narrow,  the  banks  high,  and  the  soil  sandy. 

The  rainfall  on  the  basin  of  the  Cape  Fear  is  about  46  inches — 12  in  spring,  13  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and 
11  in  winter ;  but  in  the  valleys  of  the  Deep  and  Haw  rivers,  although  the  total  rainfall  remains  the  same,  the 
summer-fall  is  rather  smaller,  and  that  in  winter  remains  about  the  same.  It  would  seem  to  follow  from  these  facts- 
that  the  flow  of  the  Cape  Fear  becomes  proportionately  more  variable  as  it  is  ascended.  Another  cause  which  tends 
to  make  the  flow  of  the  river  variable  is  the  fact  that  the  courses  of  many  of  its  tributaries  in  Chatham  county  lie 
in  a  slaty  and  broken  region,  which  sheds  the  water  with  great  rapidity,  so  that  these  streams  become  almost  dry 
in  summer;  and  this  cause  also  contributes  to  increase  the  suddenness  and  violence  of  the  freshets.  The  freshets  on 
the  Cape  Fear,  indeed,  are  said  to  be  more  violent  than  on  any  other  North  Carolina  river.  On  the  lower  part  of  Deep 
river  the  banks  are  often  overflowed,  sometimes  to  a  depth  of  10  or  12  feet,  and  much  injury  is  thereby  done  to  the 
crops.   For  the  upper  30  miles  of  the  Cape  Fear  the  banks  are  low  and  the  river  wide,  so  that  the  rise  does  not 

 —  ■  v.  

*  The  Cape  Fear  Navigation  Company  was  first  chartered  by  the  state  in  179G,  with  a  capital  of  $80,000.  In  1815  additional  privileges 
were  granted,  and  authority  given  to  increase  the  capital  stock  to  $100,000.  Although  the  money  was  expended,  no  useful  result  was- 
accomplished,  and  in  1848-'49  a  new  company  was  organized,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  which  was  afterward  increased  to  $350,000,  the  state 
subscribing  three-fifths  of  the  whole  amount.  Surveys  were  made,  but  the  cost  of  the  works  which  were  entered  upon  exceeded  the 
estimates,  and  although  a  steamer  did  once  pass  over  the  whole  route  between  Fayetteville  and  Carbonton,  on  Deep  river,  the  company 
was  never  able  to  keep  the  locks  and  dams  in  a  condition  requisite  to  secure  uninterrupted  communication.  The  failure  of  these  works 
was  partly  due  to  bad  engineering  in  the  location  of  the  dams,  it  being  difficult  to  secure  their  ends  against  the  actiou  of  freshets.  The 
amount  expended  by  tbe  last  company  was  about  $350,000.  (Annual  Report  Chief  of  Engineers,  1873,  pp.  743-'4.)  The  work  was  finally 
abandoned  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  subsequently  the  works  were  in  a  measure  destroyed,  in  part  by  natural  causes,  and  in  part 
intentionally.  In  1868  the  state  appropriated  the  works  to  the  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad  (then  Chatham  railroad),  but  they 
were  afterward  bought  by  some  parties  who  organized  as  the  Deep  River  Manufacturing  Company.  A  little  later,  the  Lobdell  Car-wheel 
Company  having  bought  an  interest  in  the  company,  and  also  the  Endor  furnace,  the  works  were  again  put  in  order  from  Battle's  dam  up, 
in  the  years  1872  to  1874,  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  Endor  furnaces  with  the  Buckhorn  ore,  for  which  (here  was  no  convenient 
transportation  except  by  water.  Navigation  was  kept  open  for  several  years  successfully,  and  may  be  said  to  be  still  open  between 
Lockville  and  Carbonton,  although  the  company  has  carried  on  no  traffic  since  1876.  In  that  year  the  Deep  River  Manufacturing  Company 
was  consolidated  with  the  Cape  Fear  Iron  and  Steel  Company,  under  the  new  name  of  "The  American  Iron  and  Steel  Company,"  which 
company  is  still  in  existence;  but  the  furnaces  were  slopped,  owing  to  the  depression  in  the  iron  business,  and  this,  of  course,  put  an  er.d 
to  the  navigation,  which  was  confined  to  that  carried  on  by  the  company,  no  local  trade  having  been  built  up,  the  single  steamboat  owned 
by  the  company  being  no  more  than  sufficient  for  their  own  wants.  Since  1876  the  boat  has  been  run  whenever  a  paying  trip  could  be 
made,  but  not  regularlv,  and  no  trips  have  been  made  since  1880. 
716 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


57 


exceed  20  feet  :  but  in  the  succeeding  75  miles,  where  the  banks  are  high  and  the  stream  narrow,  the  rise  is  very  great, 
amountiug  occasionally  to  65  feet  at  Fayetteville.  These  freshets  constitute  a  serious  disadvantage  to  the  use  of  water- 
power  on  the  stream.    There  is,  however,  no  trouble  at  all  with  ice.    I  could  find  no  gaugings  of  the  river,  and  am 
therefore  again  obliged  to  resort  to  estimates  regarding  flow  and  power. 
The  following  table  shows  the  declivity  of  the  stream  : ' 

Cape  Fear  river — Table  of  declivity. 


Locality. 


Junction  of  Haw  and  Deep  rivers*. 

Head  of  tmiley's  falls  

Foot  of  Sniiley's  falls  

Fayette  ville  

Wilmington  


Distance 
from 
Wilmington. 

Elevation 
above  tide. 

Distances 
between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Average  fall 
between 
points. 

Miles. 

Feet. 

Miles. 

Feet. 

Feetpermile. 

172.0 

130 

) 

5 

29.5 

61 

2.  060 

142.  5 

69 

\ 
5 
\ 

3.5 

27 

7.  710 

139.0 

42 

27.0 

35 

1.  250 

112.0 

7(?) 

I 

5 

112.  0 

7 

0.  0621.') 

0.0 

0 

*  At  crossing  of  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad.    This  and  the  other  elevations  on  the  road  are  due  to  Major  Winder,  general  superintendent. 

The  principal  products  of  the  region  along  the  Cape  Fear  are  corn,  cottou,  peanuts,  potatoes,  pease,  rice,  various 
vegetables  and  fruits,  rye,  oats,  wheat,  and  grasses.    The  whole  of  this  region  lies  in  the  cotton-belt. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  region,  especially  of  the  upper  part,  are  very  great.  Coal  and  iron  are  very 
abundant,  but,  owing  to  difficulties  of  transportation,  the  mines  have  been  little  worked.  The  coal-fields  along  the 
Deep  river  have  been  estimated  by  Emmons  to  cover  an  area  of  90  square  miles,  and  to  contain  at  least  258,000,000 
tons,  easily  workable.  The  coal  is  bituminous,  and  of  superior  quality.  At  Egypt,  on  Deep  river,  a  shaft  was 
excavated  to  a  depth  of  460  feet  previous  to  1850,  but  operations  were  suspended  on  account  of  want  of  transportation. 
Iron  has  been  found  at  Ore  Knob,  about  9  miles  from  the  Gulf,  and  at  Buckhorn,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Cape  Fear, 
8  miles  below  the  forks;  and  all  the  way  up  through  the  valleys  of  the  Haw  and  Deep  rivers  iron-ore  of  excellent 
quality  has  been  found  in  large  quantities.  Copper-ore  has  also  been  found  in  the  same  region,  and  several  mines 
have  been  worked. 

The  basin  of  the  Cape  Fear  is  not  very  thickly  populated,  and  its  population  has  not  increased  much  since 
1870.  In  that  year  the  population  per  square  mile  was  22.7,  while  now  it  is  only  28.4.  (Census  Bulletin  No.  78,  by 
Mr..  Gannett,  geographer  of  the  Census.) 

I  proceed  to  describe  the  river  more  in  detail  and  to  discuss  its  water-powers,  commencing  at  its  mouth. 

Below  Wilmiugtou  there  is,  of  course,  no  power.  The  country  is  low  and  very  swampy,  and  large  quantities  of 
rice  are  raised.  The  river  is,  in  places,  over  a  mile  wide,  and  at  the  mouth  the  width  is  3  miles.  The  country  is 
also  swampy  for  50  miles  above  Wilmington  ;  there  is  no  power,  and  rice  is  the  principal  product.  Thence  up  to 
Fayetteville  the  banks  are  from  15  to  40  feet  high,  the  bed  entirely  sand,  and  the  navigation  difficult,  on  account  of 
shifting  sand-bars. 

The  first  dam  of  the  old  Navigation  Company  was  at  Jones'  falls,  7.73  miles  above  Fayetteville,  its  height  having 
been  about  5  feet.    It  is  not  a  good  site  for  power. 

The  second  dam  was  at  Silver  run,  17.11  miles  above  Fayetteville,  its  height  having  been  probably  greater,  as 
its  crest  was  15.64  feet  above  that  of  the  Jones'  falls  dam.    It  was  not  spoken  of  as  a  good  site  for  power. 

The  third  clam  was  at  Williams'  fish-trap,  25  miles  from  Fayetteville.  The  total  fall  from  the  top  of  the  dam 
'to  low  water  at  Fayetteville  was  25.74  feet,   Not  a  good  site. 

The  fourth  dam  was  at  Haw  Bidge,  27  miles  above  Fayetteville;  height  of  crest  above  Fayetteville  (low  water), 
34.97  feet.   Not  a  good  site.   None  of  the  dams  thus  far  mentioned  are  now  in  existence. 

dp  to  this  point  the  fall  of  the  river  is  slight,  and  its  general  character  similar  to  what  it  is  for  some  distance 
below  Fayetteville.  We  now  come  to  the  fall-line,  where  the  river  passes  from  the  middle  to  the  eastern  division 
over  a  long  shoal  known  as  Smiley's  falls.  In  the  table  of  declivity  I  have  already  stated  that  the  fall  extends 
through  a  length  of  about  3£  miles,  with  a  total  fall  of  about  27  feet.  There  were  three  dams  built  on  these  falls, 
viz:  U-reen  Bock,  Big  Island  (Narrow  Gap),  and  Sharpfield,  the  latter  being  at  the  head  of  the  falls,  and  all  of  which 
have  been  completely  carried  away.  The  table  following,  on  page  60,  will  show  their  distances  from  Fayetteville, 
and  the  height  of  their  crests  above  the  datum.  "At  Narrow  Gap  a  ledge  of  rocks  from  4  to  6  feet  above  the 
ordinary  bed  extends  nearly  across  the  river,  leaving  a  narrow  opening  near  the  left  bank,  whence  comes  the  name. 
The  whole  volume  of  water,  during  ordinary  stages,  passes  through  this  gap."*  Smiley's  falls,  really  the  first  power 
on  the  river,  none  of  those  below  being  worth  anything  as  powers,  are  situated  above  the  mouth  of  Upper  Little 
river,  and  about  20  miles  from  any  railroad.    The  bed  is  rock,  and  the  facilities  for  dams  and  races,  as  well  as  for 

*  Quoted  from  a  report  on  a  survey  of  the  Cape  Tear  and  Deep  rivers,  by  Mr.  George  H.  Elliot,  annual  report  chief  of  engineers,  1872, 
p.  74->.    Much  of  my  information  regarding  the  Cape  Fear  and  Deep  rivers  has  been  derived  from  this  report. 

717 


58 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


building,  are  said  to  be  good.  On  account  of  its  inaccessibility  I  did  not  visit  the  place,  but  I  have  been  informed 
by  good  authority  that  the  power  is  available.  The  greatest  drawback  would  probably  be  the  heavy  freshets  to 
which  the  river  is  subject,  and  which  have  been  already  referred  to ;  but  the  fall  is  so  great  at  this  place  that  it  seems 
as  though  this  difficulty  might  be,  to  a  large  extent,  obviated,  if  it  were  not  endeavored  to  utilize  the  total  available 
fall  at  low  water.  There  is  no  power  at  present  in  use  at  the  place,  or  if  there  is,  it  is  only  for  some  small  country 
grist-mill;  but  none  such  were  heard  of. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  place  being  about  3,400  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the  power  in  the  following 
table : 

Table  of  power  available  at  Smiley's  falls  (estimated). 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage  area. 

Kainfall. 

Horse-power  avail- 
able, gross. 

Horse-power  utilized. 

Per  cent,  of  minimum 
utilized. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

a 

3 

<! 

Winter. 

Tear. 

a 

o 

o 

© 
X 
U 

3 
Pi 

Sq.  ms. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Cu.ft. 

1ft.  fall. 

llftfall. 

620 

70.0 

1,890 

0 

0 

820 

92.7 

2, 500 

0 

0 

|    3, 400 

12 

13 

10 

11 

46 1 

2, 400 

272.7 

7,  360 

0 

0 

Low  season,  dry  years  

930 

106.0 

2,860 

0 

0 

To  use  the  power  available  with  storage  is  probably  altogether  impracticable,  as  already  remarked  in  the  case 
of  the  Eoanoke.  For  the  same  reason  a  concentration  of  power  into  less  than  twenty-four  hours  would  probably 
be  impracticable,  except  to  a  very  small  extent. 

This  power,  one  of  the  finest  in  this  section  of  the  state,  is  located  in  a  region  offering  many  advantages  for 
manufacturing.  Fuel,  in  the  shape  of  timber  and  coal,  is  abundant  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  Building 
materials — fine  wood  and  stone — are  also  to  be  had  with  ease.  The  principal  economic  drawback  is  the  inaccessibility 
of  the  place,  the  nearest  railroad  being  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  railroad,  whose  nearest  point  is  20  miles 
distant.  The  products  of  the  neighborhood  are  corn,  cotton,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  pease,  potatoes,  vegetables,  and  fruits 
of  various  kinds.  In  case  of  the  establishment  of  a  cotton  factory,  an  abundance  of  the  raw  material  could  probably 
be  obtained  from  wagons.  Finally,  this  part  of  the  state  is  quite  healthy,  although  not  so  much  so  as  the  western 
portion,  chills  and  fever  being  more  prevalent. 

The  next  dam  above  Sharpfield  dam  was  McAllister's,  3  miles  above,  the  present  fall  in  the  river  between  these 
points  being  about  8  feet.  Then  came  Fox's  Island  dam,  3  miles  above,  the  natural  fall  being  now  10  feet.  The 
next  was  Douglas'  falls  dam,  rather  over  8  miles  above,  and  the  fall  is  9  feet.  The  bed  of  the  river  above  Smiley's 
falls  is  rock,  and  the  fall  considerably  greater  than  below.  The  next  dam  above  Douglas'  falls  was  Battle's,  which 
is  the  first  dam  at  present  existing  on  the  river,  having  been,  as  already  mentioned,  the  lowest  dam  rebuilt  by  the 
last  company.  The  fall  between  this  dam  and  Douglas'  falls,  a  distance  of  a  little  over  3  miles,  is  9  feet.  Battle's 
dam  is  a  wooden  structure,  straight  across  the  river,  and  about  11  feet  high  and  500  feet  long.  It  is  not  used  for 
power,  although  it  might  be,  as  the  place  is  topographically  favorable,  but  the  freshets  would  be  a  drawback  to 
the  use  of  so  small  a  fall.  The  dam  ponds  the  water  for  2  miles,  up  to  the  foot  of  Buckhorn  falls,  the  most  important 
fall  on  the  river  next  to  Smiley's,  and  navigation  through  which  is  effected  by  means  of  a  canal.  At  the  head  of 
the  falls  is  a  dam,  built  of  wood,  like  Battle's  dam,  aud  about  1,000  feet  long  and  3  or  4  feet  high.  It  has  the  shape 
of  a  letter  V,  with  the  apex  up  stream,  one  arm  being  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  banks,  and  it  is  terminated  on 
the  east  side  by  an  island,  behind  which  it  turns  a  portion  of  the  water,  as  into  a  natural  race,  which  extends  for  a 
distance  of  a  mile  or  so  between  the  bank  and  a  succession  of  islands,  which  have  been  connected  by  a  series  of 
slough-dams.  At  the  end  of  the  mile  a  slough-dam  connects  the  last  of  the  series  of  islands  with  the  bank,  and  the 
navigation  is  continued  by  means  of  a  canal  about  half  a  mile  long,  40  feet  wide  at  the  surface,  and  0  feet  deep. 
At  its  head  is  a  guard-lock,  with  a  lift  of  about  4  feet,  and  at  its  foot  two  locks,  made  of  crib-work  filled  with  stone, 
like  the  guard-lock,  with  together  17  feet  lift,  one  having  11  and  the  other  6  feet,  making  the  total  fall  from  the 
crest  of  the  Buckhorn  dam  to  that  of  Battle's  dam  some  22  or  23  feet.  A  part  of  the  fall  has  been  used  by  the 
North  Carolina  Iron  and  Steel  Works  to  run  machinery  connected  with  their  furnaces  (blast,  etc.),  the  canal 
having  been  extended  some  300  yards  from  a  point  just  above  the  outlet-locks,  so  as  to  utilize  the  power  lower  down, 
nearer  the  ore-bed.  A  fall  of  12  feet  was  used,  the  water  being  discharged  into  a  small  creek  having  a  fall  of  some 
5  feet  between  the  tail-race  and  the  river.  Although  in  freshets  the  backwater  from  the  river  came  up  to  the  wheel- 
pit,  full  capacity  could  be  secured  during  the  whole  year,  and  no  steam-power  was  used.  These  works  have  not 
been  in  operation  since  1876,  it  being  said  that  the  ore-bed  is  exhausted,  not  being  so  extensive  as  was  supposed, 
although  it  is  not  certain  that  this  is  the  case. 

These  falls  constitute  a  most  excellent  power,  very  easily  available,  and  with  a  location  . perfectly  safe.  The 

718 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


59 


existing  canal  constitutes  a  race  ready  for  use,  and  by  utilizing'  the  lift  of  the  guard-lock  and  discharging  the  water 
directly  into  the  river  at  the  works  a  fall  of  20  feet  could  be  rendered  available,  except  duriDg  very  severe  freshets, 
when  the  works  might  be  obliged  to  stop,  although  this  would  be  very  rare.  The  canal  is  in  tolerably  good 
condition,  and  could  be  made  perfect  at  a  very  small  cost ;  and,  if  necessary,  it  could  be  easily  widened  so  as  to 
increase  its  capacity.  At  its  lower  end,  where  the  locks  are,  the  land  is  low  for  several  hundred  yards  back  from 
the  river,  and  subject  to  overflow  at  times;  but  further  back  is  a  hill,  on  which  buildings  could  be  erected  with 
safety,  and  on  which  stands  the  furnace  of  the  iron  company. 

I  have  estimated  the  available  power  and  flow  at  this  point,  with  the  results  given  in  the  following  table: 

Table  of  available  poiver  at  Buckhorn  falls  (estimated). 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low-season  

Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Sq.  miles. 


3, 200 


In. 


12 


Rainfall. 


In. 


13 


In. 


in 


In. 


In. 


46 


Horse-power  available, 
srross. 


1  foot  fall. 

05.4 
87.0 
2S3.4 
100.0 


20  feet  fall. 

1,  300 
1,740 
5,000 

2,  000 


To  utilize  the  whole  of  the  minimum  power  with  a  fall  of  one  foot  per  mile  to  the  canal  would  require  a  canal 
with  rather  larger  dimensions  than  those  given  for  the  present  one.  With  a  fall  of  2  feet  per  mile,  however,  the 
present  one  would  answer,  the  banks  being  composed  of  earth,  with  no  special  precaution  to  keep  them  smooth. 
The  present  canal,  or  one  40  feet  wide  at  top,  G  feet  deep,  and  slopes  of  45°,  would  be  capable  of  carrying  volumes 
of  water,  and  of  affording  power,  with  different  slopes,  as  per  the  following  table: 


Table  of  power  afforded  by  canal  in  earth,  40  feet  icide,  0  feet  deep,  sides  at  45°,  at  Buckhorn  falls. 


Fall  of  canal. 

Capacity  per 
second. 

Horse-power  availablo, 
gross. 

Remarks. 

Cubic  feet. 

450 
625 
.  790 

1  footfall. 
51 
71 
90 

Total. 
1,020 
1,349 
1,620 

Available  fall  about  20  feet. 
Available  f  ill  about  19  feet. 
Available  fall  about  18  feet. 

The  estimates  of  flow  in  the  first  table,  and  in  that  for  Srniley's  falls,  may  seem  too  low,  but  the  flow  of  the 
Cape  Fear  was  stated  to  be  very  variable.  The  available  power,  with  storage,  would  be  found  impracticable,  I 
think,  although  the  power  due  to  the  ordinary  flow  of  the  stream  might  be  considerably  increased  by  constructing 
storage-reservoirs  in  the  valleys  of  Deep  and  Haw  rivers. 

Buckhorn  falls  are  more  accessible  than  Srniley's,  being  only  about  8  miles  from  Haywood,  at  the  junction  of 
Haw  and  Deep  rivers,  and  from  the  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad,  which  crosses  both  rivers  near  their 
junction.  As  already  mentioned,  coal  and  building  materials  can  be  obtained  in  abundance  in  the  vicinity.  The 
locality  is  healthy,  and  the  climate  mild.  The  property,  including  land,  canals,  and  dams,  is  all  owned  by  the 
Navigation  Company. 

The  width  of  the  Cape  Fear  at  Buckhorn  dam  is  about  700  or  800  feet,  and  the  dam  ponds  the  water  with  this 
average  width  up  to  the  forks,  and  beyond,  or  about  8  miles.  Buckhom  falls  is  thus  the  highest  power  on  the 
river. 

In  the  following  table  of  power  on  the  Cape  Fear  river  I  have  only  mentioned  those  powers  which  may  bo 
considered  as  available  practically,  viz :  Srniley's  falls,  Battle's  dam,  and  Buckhorn  falls.  As  curiosities  simply 
I  have  added  the  theoretical  power  between  certain  points. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  there  is  only  one  mill  in  operation  on  the  river,  probably  because  small  mills — the  only 
kinds  that  have  ever  sought  a  location  in  this  part  of  the  state — have  been  more  cheaply  located  on  small  streams, 
where  there  is  not  such  danger  from  heavy  freshets. 

719 


60 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Cape  Fear  river — Summary  of  power  {estimated). 


Locality. 


Smiley 's  falls  -  

Battle's  dam  

Buckhorn  falls  

Between  Fayetteville  

and  foot  of  Smiley's  falls   

Between  head  of  Smiley's  falls  

and  Battle's  dam  

Total  between  Fayetteville  

and  junction  of  Haw  and  Deep  rivers 


I 


Miles. 
30.5 

48.0 

51.0 

0.0 
27.0 
30.5 
48.0 

0.0 
60.  0 


Sq.  ms. 
3,  400 

3,  200 

3,  200 

4,  250  > 
3,  400  5 
3, 400  ^ 

3,  200  i 

4,  250  ) 
3,  025  > 


Rainfall. 


In.  In. 
10  11 


10  j  11 


10 


11 


Total  fall. 


Feet. 
27 

11 

♦20 

35 
26 
127 


Miles 
3.5 

0.0 

1.5 

27.0 
17.  5 
60.0 


Horse-power  available,  gross.  * 


1,  890 

2,  500 

7,  360 

2,  860 

720 

950 

2, 780 

1, 100 

1,  300 

1,740 

5,  000 

2,000 

2,  800 

3,  650 

10,  000 

4,  200 

1,750 

2,  275 

6,  800 

2,  600 

9,  000 

12,  000 

36,  750 

13, 700 

Total  util- 
ized. 


Feet. 


15 


'See  pages  18  to  21. 


t  Not  available  practically  in  all  probability. 


t  See  description. 


Table  giving  number  and  location  of  dams  constructed  on  the  Cape  Fear  and  Deep  rivers  by  the  Xavigation  Company, 
together  with  a  profile  of  the  rivers  between  Fayetteville  and  Hancock1  s  dam. 

[Taken  from  a  map  aud  profile  of  the  rivers  according  to  a  survey  by  Hamilton  Fulton,  civil  engineer,  in  the  office  of  the  state  geologist 

in  Ealtigh.  ] 


Name  cf  dam  or  place. 


Fayetteville  bridge . 
Jones'  Falls  dam  . . . 
Silver  Bun  dam  


Fayette- 
ville 
bridge. 


Distance  Elevation  of  crest 
from       or  water  but. 


"William's  fish-trap  dam 

Haw  Ridge  dam  

Green  Rock  dam  


Big  Island  dam  (Narrow  Gap  ?) . 

Sharpfield  dam  

McAllister's  dam  

Fox's  Island  dam  

Douglass'  dam  

Battle's  dam  

Buckbom  falls  


Buckhorn  dam  

Deep  river,  near  junction  with  Haw. 

tockville  dam  (lower)   

Lockville  dam  (upper)  

Gorgas  dam  (Clegg's)  

Endor  dam  (Farish  s  fish-trap)  

Gulf  dam  (Haughton's)  

Carbonton  dam  (Evans')  

Tyser's  dam  (Hancock's)  


Miles. 
0.  00 
7. 73 
17. 11 
25.00 
26.  99 
28. 14 
29.37 
30.  59 
33.65 
36.50 
44.  76 
47.  97 

50.  00 

51.  65 
60.  44 


face  above  low- 
water  at  Fay 
etteville. 


62.21 
64. 70 
71.43 
81.  37 
87.37 
99.  87 


Feet. 
0.  00 
50.00 
20.64 
25.74 
34.97 
45.47 
53.61 
62.56 
73. 18 
80.46 
88.68 
99.51 
108. 47 
122. 39 
127. 11 
151. 67 
165.  02 
172. 24 
174. 36 
181.  66 
190. 12 
204.  64 


Notes  on  this  table. — The  height  of  each  dam  may  be  found  approximately  (a  little  too  large)  by  subtracting  from  the  height  of  its  crest  that  of  the  dam 
below,  except  in  cases  where  locks  and  canals  were  used,  i.  e.,  in  the  case  of  the  Buckhorn  dam,  the  lower  Lockville  dam,  and  the  Gorgas  dam. 

These  figures,  having  reference  to  the  work  as  originally  planned,  are  not  correct  for  those  now  in  existence,  for  in  some  cases  these  figures  were  altered  when 
the  works  were  built,  and  in  others  they  have  been  altered  since. 
» 

TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  CAPE  FEAR  BELOW  THE  FORKS. 

The  first  important  tributary  of  the  Cape  Fear,  as  we  ascend  the  river,  is  the  Northeast  Cape  Fear,  which  rises 
in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  Duplin  county  and  flows  south,  through  Pender  and  New  Hanover  counties, 
entering  the  Cape  Fear  river  at  Wilmington,  some  20  miles  from  the  sea.  Lying  entirely  below  the  falMine,  it  has 
no  water-power  of  any  consequence,  flowing  mostly  through  swamps.  There  are  only  a  few  small  mills  on  the 
stream  and  its  tributaries. 

The  next  important  tributary  is  South  river,  also  from  the  east,  rising,  under  the  name  of  Black  river,  in  the 

northeastern  part  of  Harnett  county,  and  flowing  south  through  that  county,  and  between  Cumberland,  Bladen,  and 

720 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


61 


Brunswick  counties  on  its  right,  and  Sampson  and  Pender  on  its  left,  entering  the  Cape  Fear  about  10  miles  above 
Wilmington,  after  a  course,  in  a  straight  line,  of  about  85  or  90  miles.  Its  drainage  area  comprises  about  1,430 
square  miles.  Although  its  sources  are  above  the  fall-line,  the  stream  is  very  small  where  it  enters  the  eastern 
division,  and  its  water-power  is,  therefore,  of  no  consequence.  Some  of  the  small  tributaries  near  its  sources  have, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  Northeastern  Cape  Fear,  small  grist-mills,  but  of  no  consequence.  The  South  river  has  one 
large  tributary,  the  Black  Eiver  (not  the  one  above  mentioned),  which  enters  from  the  east,  after  having  flowed,  from 
north  to  south,  through  the  whole  length  of  Sampson  county,  in  the  northern  part  of  which  its  sources  lie.  '  Its 
length  is  about  50  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  its  drainage  area  620  square  miles;  but  as  «it  lies  entirely  in  the 
eastern  division,  it  possesses  no  water-power.  There  are  no  towns  of  importance  on  these  streams.  They  are  so 
swampy  that  the  towns  are  located  some  miles  from  them  on  higher  and  more  healthy  ground. 

We  next  come  to  Eockfish  creek,  which  rises  in  the  western  part  of  Cumberland  county,  flows  nearly  east, 
forming  for  about  10  miles  the  boundary  between  Cumberland  and  Bobeson  counties,  and  empties  into  the  Cape 
Fear  about  10  miles  below  Fayetteville,  in  the  former  county.  Its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  30  miles; 
following  the  general  course  of  the  stream  it  is  about  35  miles,  but  taking  in  all  its  windings  it  is  considerably  moie. 
It  drains,  in  all,  an  area  of  280  square  miles,  and  its  principal  tributaries  are  from  the  north,  the  largest  being  the 
Little  Eockfish,  draining  an  area  of  77  square  miles.    There  are  no  towns  on  the  stream.  , 

Eockfish  creek  is  a  good  sample  of  a  class  of  streams  which  I  have  not  yet  described  in  detail,  not  having  had 
occasion  to  refer  to  any  particular  powers  on  any  of  them,  although  some  tributaries  of  the  Neuse  and  Tar  belong 
to  this  class.  These  streams,  located  generally  just  below  the  fall-line,  which  they  sometimes  cross,  differ  very 
materially  in  character  from  the  majority  of  streams  in  this  part  of  the  country.  I  have  alluded  to  the  fact  that 
just  below  the  fall-line  there  is  a  belt  of  sand-hills,  some  30  or  40  miles  wide,  running  almost  parallel  with  that  line, 
and  sometimes  extending  above  it.  The  streams  of  the  class  referred  to  rise  and  flow  through  this  sandy  region, 
and  it  is  to  this  fact  that  their  character  is  due.  The  sand-hill  belt  consists  of  broad,  flattish  swells,  well  wooded, 
as  a  rule,  with  long-leaf  pine,  and  generally  with  an  undergrowth.  The  surface  deposit  of  sand  varies  generally 
from  a  foot  or  two  to  five  or  six  feet  in  depth,  and  is  in  places  10,  20,  and  even  100  feet  thick.  It  is  underlaid  with 
an  impervious  stratum  of  half-compacted  grit  or  clay  of  the  tertiary  formation  (overlaid  at  points  by  a  stratum  of 
gravel  several  feet  thick),  which  is  in  places  very  thick,  having  been  bored  into  to  a  depth  of  66  feet  at  one  place.  The 
smaller  streams  in  the  sand-hills  have  not  cut  out  their  beds  through  the  sand,  and  are  often  sluggish,  stagnant,  and 
marshy ;  but  the  larger  creeks,  and  the  rivers,  have  cut  away  the  sand  entirely  and  worn  out  their  beds  in  the 
impervious  stratum  beneath,  which  sheds  into  the  water-courses  all  the  water  which  reaches  it  by  percolation. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  sand-hills  absorb  the  rain  which  falls  upon  them,  thus  removing  it  from  the  direct 
action  of  the  sun,  has  the  effect  of  diminishing  the  evaporation,  while  their  large  thickness  in  places  enables  them 
to  absorb  considerable  water,  and  to  give  it  out  gradually,  as  it  reaches  and  flows  along  the  impervious  stratum 
beneath,  thus  enabling  them  to  act  as  storage-reservoirs,  and  to  regulate  the  flow  to  a  remarkable  degree.  Thus 
there  is  considerable  difference  in  the  sand-hill  streams,  according  to  the  depth  of  the  sand  on  their  drainage-basins, 
and  by  no  means  are  all  these  streams  good  sources  of  power.  Sand  and  gravel  in  general,  although  they  absorb 
water  rapidly,  give  it  out  rapidly  also,  unless  occurring  in  sufficient  masses  to  be  able  to  store  up  considerable 
water  without  becoming  saturated.  Hence  the  depth  of  the  sand-hills  acts  very  beneficially,  and  when  the  sand  is 
deep  the  streams  of  the  class  referred  to  not  only  discharge  a  large  proportion  of  the  rainfall  on  their  drainage 
basins,  but  discharge  it  very  uniformly,  their  flow  being  remarkably  constant.  The  power  which  can  be  obtained 
from  these  small  streams  is  sometimes  remarkable,  and  we  shall  see  further  on  that  it  is  one  of  them  which  is  the 
principal  manufacturing  stream  in  the  state  of  South  Carolina.  Their  value  is  also  increased  by  the  fact  that  the 
topography  of  the  sand-hill  region  is  such  that  large  ponds  can  be  obtained  easily,  and  storage-room  sufficient,  not 
only  to  regulate  the  flow  to  a  considerable  extent  during  the  year,  but  also  to  permit  of  the  concentration  of  the 
entire  flow  of  the  stream  into  working  hours,  thus  rendering  it  possible  to  double  the  power  due  to  the  natural  flow 
if  the  mills  are  only  worked  12  hours.  Those  streams  which  have  cut  deep  channels  for  themselves  through  the  sand 
down  to  and  into  the  impervious  stratum  of  hard  pan  flow  considerably  below  the  general  surface  of  the  country, 
often  50  or  60  feet.  The  banks  of  the  Big  Eockfish,  for  example,  are  almost  100  feet  high  near  the  Cape  Fear,  and 
well  wooded.  These  sand-hill  streams  are,  of  course,  not  subject  to  such  heavy  freshets  as  ordinary  streams.  Big 
Eockfish  has  been  known  to  rise  14  feet,  but  10  feet  is  a  very  large  rise,  while  Little  Eockfish  rises  only  6  or  7  feet. 
There  is,  however,  not  much  land  overflowed.  The  smaller  streams,  however,  are  sometimes  bordered  by  wet 
grounds,  heavily  wooded  and  overgrown,  nearer  the  general  surface  of  the  ground,  and  lying  high  above  the  Seds 
of  the  main  streams.  Though  the  sand-hills  are,  as  a  rule,  well  wooded,  the  woods  have  in  parts  been  cut  down 
to  a  considerable  extent,  and  it  is  stated,  and  doubtless  truly,  that  the  flow  of  the  streams  in  these  sections  is  more 
variable  than  formerly. 

Eegarding  available  power  on  these  streams  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  much  information,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  streams  have  a  uniform  declivity,  with  no  falls,  so  that  power  may,  as  a  rule,  be  obtained  at  almost  any 
point  where  the  banks  are  favorable  for  the  location  of  a  dam  and  buildings. 

The  drainage-basin  of  Eockfish  creek  lies  below  the  fall -line;  and  the  stream  has  no  falls,  but  a  gradual  declivity. 
1012  w  P— vol  16  46  721 


62 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  map  shows  the  general  form  and  position  of  the  basin.  Like  the  others  of  this  class,  it  has  no  lakes,  but  the 
facilities  for  constructing  reservoirs  are  tolerably  good.  The  banks  are  moderately  high,  and  seldom  overflowed; 
the  rise  in  freshets  is  small,  the  flow  very  constant  and  strong,  and  the  fall  rapid.  The  rainfall  is  about  40  inches,  12 
in  spring,  13  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  11  in  winter — a  distribution  which,  of  itself,  would  tend  to  render  the 
flow  constant.  The  stream  is  used  for  rafting,  and  there  are  no  mills  on  it  for  15  miles  from  its  mouth,  although 
formerly  there  were  one  or  two  saw-mills  below  the  mouth  of  Little  Eockflsh,  and  above  that  are  a  few  small 
country  saw-  and  grist-mills,  herein  tabulated.  Of  the  available  power  of  this  stream  a  very  small  proportion  is 
utdized.  Some  of  its  tributaries,  however,  are  well  utilized.  The  most  important  is  Little  Eockflsh  creek,  which  is 
the  same  in  general  character  as  the  main  stream,  which  it  enters  about  7  miles,  in  a  straight  line,  from  the  Cape  Fear. 
The  first  power  on  this  stream  is  an  unimproved  site  formerly  occupied  by  Murphy's  paper-mill,  with  18  feet  fall, 
and  an  available  power,  at  all  seasons,  of  at  least  100  horse-power  net  (with  good  wheels),  judging  by  the  power  used 
at  the  other  mills  on  the  stream.  This  power  is  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  with  no  important 
tributaries  below  it.    The  drainage  area  above  is  therefore  about  77  square  miles. 

About  1£  miles  above  this  site  is  the  Hope  mill  of  the  Eockflsh  Manufacturing  Company  (T.  Campbell  Oaktnan, 
president*),  a  cotton-mill,  with  grist-  and  saw-mill  attached,  using  a  power  of  about  130  horse-power,  with  a  fall 
of  23£  feet.  The  dam  is  of  wood,  53  feet  long  and  20  feet  high,  rebuilt  in  1872  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000,  and 
ponding  the*water  over  about  200  acres  to  a  depth  of  7  feet.  A  race  300  feet  long  leads  to  the  wheel.  No  steam 
is  used  for  power,  and  by  storing  the  water  during  the  night  full  capacity  may  be  obtained  at  all  seasons,  the  factory 
being  run  during  12  hours.  Mr.  Oakman  has  carefully  measured  the  water  used  by  his  wheels,  and  states  it  to  be 
89.7  cubic  feet  per  second,  saving  the  water  at  night ;  i.  e.,  the  natural  flow  of  the  stream  is  never  less  than  44.5 
cubic  feet  per  second.  The  drainage  area  above  the  mill  being  about  70  square  miles,  the  stream  discharges  at  its 
minimum  0.63  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile — a  remarkable  discharge. 

A  mile  and  a  half  above  Hope  mill  is  the  Bluff  mill  (H.  &  E.  J.  Lilly),  a  cotton  factory,  with  a  fall  of  9  feet, 
using  57  horse-power.  The  dam  is  earth,  900  feet  long,  10  feet  high,  built  in  1872,  and  costing  $5,000,  and  the  pond 
covers  75  acres  to  an  average  depth  of  8  feet.  Full  capacity  can  be  secured  the  whole  year.  The  drainage  area 
above  being  about  55  square  miles,  the  discharge  of  the  stream  should  be  very  nearly  0.63  cubic  foot  per  second  per 
square  mile  to  give  the  power  stated  if  the  water  is  stored  at  night. 

The  only  other  power  worth  mentioning  specially  is  the  Beaver  Creek  mill  (H.  &  E.  J.  Lilly),  just  above  the  Bluff 
mill,  situated  on  Beaver  creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Little  Eockflsh — a  cotton-mill,  using  111  horse-power  and  a  fall  of 
14  feet.  The  dam  is  earth,  1,500  feet  long,  14  feet  high,  built  in  1841,  and  ponding  the  water  over  200  acres  to  a  depth 
of  12  feet.  A  race  100  feet  long  leads  to  the  mill.  Full  capacity  can  be  secured  the  entire  year.  A  calculation,  on 
these  data,  gives  the  discharge  of  the  stream  so  great  that  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  some  of  the  figures  must  be 
erroneous.  In  fact,  the  amount  of  machinery  run  in  the  mill  is  not  much  greater  than  in  the  Bluff  mill,  according 
to  the    Hand-book  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture". 

Above  the  Bluff  mill  the  Little  Eockflsh  and  its  tributaries  are  well  utilized  by  a  number  of  small  saw-  and 
grist-mills. 

Above  the  Eockflsh  there  are  a  number  of  smaller  streams  belonging  to  the  same  class  which  flow  into  the  Cape 
Fear,  two  of  which  empty  almost  in  the  town  of  Fayetteville,  and  on  which  there  were  four  factories  before  the  war, 
but  the  powers  are  small — not  over  20  or  30  horse-power  probably.  There  are  some  small  grist-mills  on  all  these 
streams,  generally  running  two  pair  of  stones.  About  7  miles  above  Fayetteville  there  is  a  small  tributary  (Carver's 
creek)  which,  near  its  mouth,  falls  over  a  ledge  of  hard  pan  and  soft  rock  a  distance  of  18  or  20  feet,  but  in  dry 
weather  there  is  hardly  any  water  in  the  stream.  The  next  important  stream  above  Eockflsh  is  Lower  Little  river, 
which  risis  in  Moore  county  and  flows  east  through  Cumberland,  and  between  Cumberland  and  Harnett,  emptying 
into  the  Cape  Fear  below  Av^erysboro'.  Its  length  is  45  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  its  drainage  area  about  448 
square  miles.  The  principal  town  on  the  stream  is  Manchester,  a  very  small  place.  This  stream,  with  its  tributaries, 
may  be  classed  among  the  sand-hill  streams,  but  its  basin  lies  near  the  upper  limit  of  the  sand-hill  belt',  and  so  the 
general  character  of  the  sand-hill  streams  (like  the  Eockflsh)  is  not  so  pronounced  here,  the  flow  being  not  quite 
so  constant  and  the  freshets  rather  more  violent,  the  water  rising  some  15  feet.  The  banks  are  high  and  well 
wooded,  and  the  bed  of  the  stream  the  same  as  has  been  described ;  the  country,  as  a  whole,  is  not  so  sandy.  The 
fall  of  the  stream  is  uniform,  and  at  the  rate  of  3£  feet  per  mile.t    I  have  estimated  the  flow  as  follows : 


• 

Place. 

Drainage 
area. 

Flow  per  second. 

Horse-power,  gross. 

Utilized. 

Gross  horse- 
power avail- 
able, with 
fall  used. 

Minimum. 



Ordinary 
summer. 

Minimum. 

Ordinary 
summer. 

Horse-power, 
net. 

Fall. 

Square  miles. 

448 

329 

Oubicfeet. 
224 

164 

Oubic  feet. 
336 

246 

Per  footfall. 

25.4 

18.6 

Per  footfall. 

38.2 

28.0 

100+ 
20 

Feet. 
12.0 

3.5 

804 
65 

*  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Oakman  for  most  of  my  information  regarding  the  streams  in  this  vicinity. 

tThe  elevation  above  tide  at  crossing  of  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad  is  about  221  feet,  and  at  month  say  31  feet.  Length, 
measured  from  map,  is  about  55  miles. 
722 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


63 


In  the  foregoing  estimate  0.5  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  was  assumed  as  the  minimum  flow,  ami 
0.75  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  as  the  ordinary  low-water  flow.  These  figures  are  very  high— perhaps 
too  high— but  a  series  of  gaugings  only  can  serve  as  a  correct  guide. 

The  power  of  the  stream  is  utilized  by  one  cotton  factory  and  a  number  of  saw-  and  grist-mills.  The  first  mill 
is  2^  miles  from  the  mouth,  with  a  fall  of  12  feet,  not  subject  to  interruption,  except  sometimes  for  a  day  or  two  by 
backwater  from  the  Cape  Fear.  At  Manchester  is  the  cotton-  and  woolen-mill  of  the  Linwood  Manufacturing 
Company,  using  a  fall  of  3i  feet  and  about  20  horse-power.  The  Manchester  mill,  a  cotton  factory  of  about  the 
same  size,  uses  power  from  a  small  tributary.  There  are  doubtless  many  places  on  Lower  Little  river  where  dams 
might  be  located  and  excellent  power  obtained. 

Upper  Little  river  is  a  stream  similar  to  Lower  Little  river,  except  that  it  is  still  less  of  a  sand-hill  stream,  and 
said  to  be  not  so  bold  or  so  reliable  as  the  latter.  It  is  only  used  for  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and  there  are,  no  doubt, 
sites  not  used.  Each  of  these  streams  is  about  100  feet  wide  at  its  mouth.  The  length  of  Upper  Little  river  is 
about  32  miles,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  its  drainage  area  176  square  miles,  and  its  fall,  from  the  crossing  of 
the  Ealeigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad  to  its  mouth,  about  290  feet,  or  perhaps  at  the  rate  of  6  feet  or  over  to 
the  mile. 

Above  Upper  Little  river  there  are  no  tributaries  to  the  Cape  Fear  which  are  worth  mentioniifg  specially, 
although  there  are  some  small  creeks  which  afford  good  small  powers,  and  are  utilized  for  grist-  and  saw-mills. 

HAW  EIVER. 

This  river  rises  in  Eockingham  and  Guilford  counties,  North  Carolina,  pursues  a  general  southeasterly  course 
through  Alamance,  a  corner  of  Orange,  and  Chatham  counties,  and  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  latter  unites 
with  the  Deep  river  to  form  the  Cape  Fear,  which  has  just  been  discussed.  The  length  of  the  stream,  following 
its  general  course,  is  about  80  miles,  but  considerably  more  if  all  its  windings  are  followed.  Near  the  northwest 
corner  of  Alamance  county  the  river  forks,  the  north  fork  going  by  the  name  of  Haw  river,  while  the  south  fork  is 
known  as  the  Reedy  fork  of  Haw  river.  The  Reedy  fork,  as  well  as  the  north  fork  in  its  upper  parts,  flows  nearly 
east,  but  the  course  of  the  stream  below  the  junction  of  the  two  is  nearly  southeast.  There  are  no  large  towns  on 
the  river,  but  Graham,  the  county-seat  of  Alamance  county,  is  only  a  mile  or  so  distant. 

The  drainage  area  of  the  Haw  river  comprises  about  1,675  square  miles,  and  the  stream  receives  two  important 
tributaries:  the  New  Hope  creek,  from  the  east,  draining  about  317  square  miles,  entering  about  3  miles  above  the 
junction  of  Haw  and  Deep  rivers,  and  Alamance  creek,  from  the  west,  draining  about  237  square  miles,  and  enters 
the  Haw  river  about  4  miles  south  of  Graham.  The  Eeedy  fork  receives  as  its  principal  tributary  Buffalo  creek,  from 
the  south,  draining  about  128  square  miles,  and  the  north  fork  receives  Troublesome  creek,  from  the  north,  with 
a  drainage  area  of  about  88  square  miles.    The  map  shows  the  position  of  all  these  streams. 

Haw  river  flows  through  a  fertile  country  lying  in  the  center  of  the  cotton-belt,  and  the  productions  of  which 
are  about  the  same  as  along  the  upper  part  of  the  Cape  Fear,  viz:  corn,  cotton,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  tobacco,  grasses, 
a  great  variety  of  vegetables,  and  fruits.  It  is  tolerably  well  wooded,  although  not  enough  care  is  taken  to  preserve 
the  forests.  Topographically,  the  region,  especially  in  the  lower  part,  is  more  broken  than  the  drainage-basins  of 
the  Neuse,  the  Tar,  or  the  Eoanoke  rivers.  The  mineral  resources  of  the  basin  are  very  great,  iron  being  found  in 
various  places  in  large  quantities,  and  of  very  fine  quality.  Copper  has  also  been  found,  but  the  mines  have  been 
little  worked.  Building-stone  of  good  quality  is  found  all  through  the  basin.  In  fact,  in  regard  to  building-stone  in 
the  middle  and  western  divisions  of  the  southern  Atlantic  water-shed,  as  Professor  Kerr  has  remarked,  would 
be  tedious  to  particularize,  as  granite  and  gneiss  are  everywhere." 

The  bed  of  the  stream  is  generally  rock,  covered  in  places  with  deposits  of  sand,  gravel,  or  clay,  but  affording 
almost  everywhere  excellent  foundations  for  dams.  The  banks  on  the  lower  part  of  the  stream  are  tolerably  high, 
in  some  places  very  steep,  and  the  bottoms  are  narrow  and  not  much  subject  to  overflow,  while  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  stream,  where  the  country  is  not  so  broken,  the  banks  are,  in  places,  low.  In  the  upper  parts  of  Alamance 
and  Guilford  counties  the  country  is  much  flatter  than  in  Chatham  county.  The  stream  is  subject  to  very  heavy 
freshets,  and  there  are  no  lakes  serving  to  restrain  their  violence;  but  the  stream  is  rarely  frozen  over,  and  the  mills- 
suffer  no  trouble  with  ice.  Some  of  the  tributaries  of  the  stream  rise  in  a  region  where  the  prevailing  rock  is  a 
slate,  which  is  covered  with  a  thin  soil  and  sometimes  with  nOne  at  all;  and  from  this  region  the  rain-water  is  sned 
very  rapidly,  so  that  these  streams  are  nearly  dry  in  summer.  But  Haw  river  is  less  affected  in  this  way  than. 
Deep  river,  because  only  a  few  of  its  tributaries  rise  in  this  region,  in  consequence  of  which  the  latter  stream  is 
said  to  be  more  variable  in  flow  and  more  subject  to  freshets  than  the  former.  The  facilities  for  the  construction 
of  storage-reservoirs  are  said  to  be  good  in  the  upper  part  of  the  stream,  though  I  do  not  know  that  any  surveys, 
or  examinations  have  ever  been  made  with  a  view  to  determining  this  point  accurately. 

The  rainfall  in  the  valley  of  the  Haw  river  is  about  45  inches,  distributed  as  follows:  spring,  12;  summer,  12; 
autumn,  11;  winter,  10;  its  distribution  throughout  the  year  being  quite  uniform,  judging  from  the  chart  published 
by  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

723 


64 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  fall  of  the  stream  between  different  points  will  be  seen  from  the  following  table,  which  gives  the  elevation 
at  several  points ;  and  it  will  be  remarked  that  the  fall  of  the  stream  is  quite  large  for  one  not  rising  in  the  mountains, 
being  much  larger  than  that  of  any  stream,  or  of  any  part  of  a  stream,  which  we  have  yet  considered,  which  lies  in 
the  middle  division : 

*  - 

Table  of  declivity — Haw  River. 


Place. 

Distance  from 
mouth.* 

Elevation 
above  tide. 

Distance  be- 
tween points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points  per 
mile. 

At  confluence  with  Deep  river  

Miles. 

0 
50 
80 

77 

Feet. 

►  130 
450 
676 
647 

Miles. 

|    -    -    -  50 
}    -    -    -  30 
|    ...  27 

Faet. 

-  -    -  320 

-  -    -  226 
---  197 

Feet. 

-  -    -  6.4 

-  -     -  7.5 

-  -     .  7.3 

At  crossing  of  North  Carolina  railroad  t  *  

*  Distances  based  on  measurements  from  a  map,  made  to  follow  the  windings  as  closely  as  was  practicable, 
t  Based  on  a  rough  estimate  of  the  height  of  the  railroad  bridge  above  water. 


The  flow  of  the  stream  in  different  seasons  is  not  known  with  accuracy.  Professor  Kerr  states  the  flow  at  its 
mouth  to  be  1,760  cubic  feet  per  second,  but  as  this  is  not  low- water,  and  probably  more  nearly  the  average  flow, 
it  is  of  no  value  for  our  computations.*  I  am  therefore  forced  to  base  my  figures,  as  usual,  on  estimates  from 
drainage  area  and  rainfall. 

Haw  river  (crossed  almost  at  right  angles  by  three  railroads)  is  not  very  accessible.  Especially  is  this  the 
case  with  that  part  of  the  river  below  the  crossing  of  the  North  Carolina  railroad  at  Haw  river,  in  Alamance 
county,  while  above  that  point  the  stream  is,  on  the  average,  about  8  miles  from  the  railroad,  to  which  the  Keedy 
fork  runs  nearly  parallel.  A  railroad  has  been  projected  to  run  from  the  junction  of  Haw  and  Deep  rivers  up  the 
valley  of  the  Haw,  starting  from  Moncure,  following  the  river  to  a  point  about  G  miles  above  the  crossing  of  the 
North  Carolina  railroad,  and  then  passing,  via  Yanceyville,  Caswell  county,  to  Danville,  Virginia.  The  charter 
has  been  obtained,  but  no  surveys  have  yet  been  made;  and  although  subscription-books  have  been  opened,  there 
has  not  yet  been  a  meeting  to  organize. 

The  foregoing  general  sketch  shows  that  the  Haw  river  ought  to  afford  a  great  deal  of  water-power  on  account 
of  its  rapid  fall  and  the  fact  that  it  crosses  the  ledges  of  rock  at  large  angles,  and  the  following  account  of  the  power 
on  the  stream  will  show  that  this  is  the  case,  and  that  the  Haw  river  is  well  fitted,  in  some  respects,  to  become  a 
large  manufacturing  stream,  and  indeed  it  is  at  the  present  time  one  of  the  principal  manufacturing  streams  of  the 
state- 
Commencing  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  water-powers  met  with,  in  ascending  the  stream,  will  now  be 
described. 

The  first  power  is  situated  3  miles  from  the  junction,  and  just  below  the  mouth  of  New  Hope  river.  It  is 
utilized  by  a  mill  belonging  to  the  American  Iron  and  Steel  Company,  and  known  as  the  "Bland  mill".  The  banks 
on  the  east  are  favorable  for  building,  and  not  often  subject  to  overflow,  while  on  the  west  rises  a  rocky  bluff  to  a 
height  of  over  a  hundred  feet.  Diagonally  across  and  up  the  river  from  the  east  bank  to  this  rocky  bluff  extends 
the  dam,  a  wooden  structure,  300  feet  long,  7  feet  high,  vertical  in  front,  but  sloping  downward  on  the  up-stream 
side,  and  throwing  the  water  back  for  over  a  mile,  with  an  average  width  of  200  feet,  the  river  not  being  thrown 
out  of  its  banks.  At  the  east  end  of  the  dam  is  the  mill,  a  grist-mill,  running  two  pair  of  stones,  with  7  feet  fall, 
and  using  perhaps  20  horse-power  net.  This  mill  can  run  during  eleven  months  of  the  year,  but  during  the 
remaining  month  is  troubled  with  backwater  on  account  of  the  small  fall.  There  is  at  all  times,  of  course,  a 
great  excess  of  water.  In  the  summer  of  1880  about  80  feet  of  the  dam  at  the  western  extremity  was  undermined 
and  carried  away  by  a  freshet,  but  has  since  been  rebuilt.  The  dam  as  it  stands  would  probably  cost  some  $2,000. 
The  river  here  is  about  250  feet  wide,  and  the  water  rises  very  high  iu  freshets,  sometimes  30  or  40  feet,  but  there 
is  no  trouble  with  ice.  The  drainage  area  above  this  power  being  about  1,675  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the 
power  as  in  the  following  table : 

Table  of  power  at  the  Bland  mill^ 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Cubic  feet. 

1  foot  fall. 

7  feet  fall. 

r  280 

32.3 

225 

|      1, 675 

7 

335 

38.0 

'J70 

1,  340 

152. 0 

1,  050 

[  380 

43.5 

300 

'Professor  Kerr's  statement  is  that  the  river  affords  200  horse-power  per  foot  of  fall  at  its  mouth.  (Geol.  Eep.,  p.  39.) 
724 


1 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


65 


The  effect  of  the  uniform  distribution  of  the  rainfall  is  to  render  the  flow  more  variable  and  to  decrease  the 
minimum  flow,  while  at  the  same  time  the  total  amount  of  power  or  flow  available,  with  storage,  is  increased  beyond 
what  it  would  be  were  the  summer-fall  greater.  It  was  stated  to  me  as  a  fact  that  the  flow  of  this  stream  is  very 
variable.  The  maximum  flow  given  as  available,  with  storage,  would  require  the  construction  of  storage-reservoirs 
with  a  capacity  in  all  of  at  least  900,000,000  cubic  feet,  which  would  require,  for  instance,  if  only  one  reservoir  were 
used,  one  of  say  2  miles  square  and  between  8  and  9  feet  deep.  Such  a  large  amount  of  storage  would,  of  course, 
be  very  expensive.  The  pond  at  the  Bland  mill  is,  of  course,  not  large  enough  to  furnish  any  appreciable  storage, 
or  to  allow  of  the  concentration  of  the  available  power  into  working  hours.  The  site  is  not  an  especially  good  one 
for  large  establishments  on  account  of  the  small  fall  and  the  trouble  resulting  from  backwater.  It  is,  however, 
very  favorably  located  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Ealeigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad,  and  in  a  healthy  part  of 
the  state. 

The  next  power  above  this  is  situated  about  2  miles  further  up  the  stream,  and  is  not  improved.  It  is  known 
as  Hartsaw's  site,  and  it  is  said  that  the  available  fall  amounts  to  G  feet.  Being  above  the  mouth  of  the  New  Hope, 
the  drainage  area  amounts  to  about  1,320  square  miles,  and  the  power  available  will  be  about  0.07  of  that  at  the 
Bland  mill,  or  as  follows  : 

Power  at  Hartsaw's  site. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . - 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


The  next  power  is  Moore's  mill,  improved  and  in  use,  situated  some  3  miles  above  Hartsaw's.  There  is  no  damr 
but  a  race  some  200  yards  long  leads  to  the  mill — a  grist-mill,  with  2  or  3  run  of  stones,  together  with  a  saw-mill, 
cotton-gin,  and  foundry,  using  a  fall  of  some  10  feet  (?)  and  a  small  amount  of  power.  The  shoal  is  about  a  mile 
long,  and  the  total  fall  is  said  by  good  judges  to  be  about  22  feet;  but  I  did  not  examine  the  place,  and  am  not  able 
to  vouch  for  this  statement.  In  dry  weather  a  rough  dam  of  stone  turns  the  water  into  the  race,  but  this  is 
disturbed  in  freshets,  and  in  ordinary  times  is  not  necessary.  The  power  used  I  am  unable  to  state  exactly ;  that 
available,  assuming  the  fall  to  be  22  feet,  is  estimated  in  the  following  table : 

Power  at  Moore's  mill. 


Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available^ 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Cubic  feet. 

1  foot  fall. 

6  feet  fall. 

I"  218 

24.7 

150 

1,320 

6 

264 

30.0 

180 

1,060 

120.0 

720 

I  300 

34.0 

200 

*. 

State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 


Fall 
assumed. 


Flow  per  I  Horse-power  available, 
second.  gross. 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Sq.  miles. 

1 


Feet. 


{ 


1,300 


22 


Cubic  feet. 

214 
260 
1,  040 
29o' 


1  foot  fall.  22  feet  fall. 

24. 0  525 

30.0  COO 

118.  0  2,  000 

33. 7  740 


This  site,  one  of  the  best  on  Haw  river,  is  quite  easily  accessible,  being  only  about  six  miles  from  tl^  Ealeigh 
and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad,  and  about  the  same  distance  from  Pittsboro',  the  county-seat  of  Chatham  county, 
[t  is  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of  capitalists  desiring  to  locate  in  this  vicinity. 

The  next  power  above  Moore's  is  about  2  miles  above,  an  unimproved  site,  with  a  fall  said  to  amount  to  8  feet. 
The  power  here  will  be  a  very  little  over  one-third  of  that  at  Moore's,  and  is  given  in  the  table  beyond,  with  a 
summary  of  all  the  others. 

Next  comes  a  second  unimproved  site,  known  as  the  Seven  Island  shoal,  where  the  fall  is  said  to  be  7  feet.  It  is 
2  miles  above  the  one  last  mentioned,  and  the- power  is  tabulated  beyond. 

Next  comes  the  mill  and  site  of  Stephen  Henley,*  about  1£  miles  above  Seven  Islands,  and  just  about  on  the  road 
from  Pittsboro'  to  Ealeigh,  and  12  or#3  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream.  A  wing-dam  500  feet  long  and  3£ 
feet  high  extends  across  to  an  island  and  serves  to  turn  the  water  into  the  race,  which  carries  it  about  100  yards, 
affording  a  fall  at  the  mill  of  8  feet.  The  dam  was  built  in  1874  and  1875  at  a  cost  of  some  $500,  and  is  of  rock, 
planked  over,  and  backs  the  water  some  600  feet.  The  mill  is  a  grist-mill,  and  uses  about  50  horse-power.  It  is 
situated  on  the  west  bank,  but  the  principal  channel  of  the  river  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  island  above  referred  to, 

*  To  Mr.  Henley  I  am  indebted  for  the  greater  part  of  my  information  regarding  this  part  of  the  Haw  river.  Mr.  Henley  in  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  water-power  in  this  vicinity. 


725 


66 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


which  is  about  half  a  mile  long.  Mr.  Henley  estimates  the  fall  at  this  place  at  about  16  feet.  Taking  this  estimate 
as  correct  (though  I  cannot  vouch  for  it),  the  available  power  at  this  place  may  be  estimated  as  follows : 

Table  of  power  at  Henley's  mill. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Sq.  miles. 
1,285 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


The  next  power  is  Brown's  mill,  where  there  is  said  to  be  about  7  or  8  feet.  I  have  no  further  particulars 
regarding  this  place.  It  is  about  1£  miles  above  Henley's,  and  the  power  is  tabulated  beyond.  The  power  is  said 
to  be  not  in  use  at  present. 

The  next  is  an  unimproved  fall  of  some  8  feet,  belonging  to  the  Bynum  Manufacturing  Company,  formerly  used, 
but  now  altogether  abandoned.    The  estimated  power  is  given  in  the  table. 

We  next  come  to  the  cotton-mill  of  the  Bynum  Manufacturing  Company,  about  4  miles  above  Henley's  mill.  The 
dam  is  of  wood,  built  in  1860  at  a  cost  of  $500,  and  is  475  feet  long  and  3  feet  high,  ponding  the  water  over  10  (?) 
acres.  A  race  600  yards  long  leads  to  the  mill,  where  the  fall  is  16  feet,  and  80  horse-power  is  used.  The  mill  is 
run  night  and  day,  and  water  always  wastes.    The  following  table  gives  my  estimate  of  flow  and  power : 

Table  of  power  at  mill  of  Bynum  Manufacturing  Company. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years . . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


1,  250 


Fall. 


Feet. 


16 


Flow  per 
second. 


Cubic  feet. 

1200 
250 
1,  000 
280 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


1  foot  fall. 


16  feet  fall. 


23.4 

375 

28.4 

450 

113.6 

1,825 

32.4 

510 

One  mile  or  less  above  Bynum's  is  B.  J.  Powell's  mill-site,  the  mill  having  been  recently  burnt.  The  dam  is  of 
wood  and  stone,  and  extends  entirely  across  the  river,  and  a  fall  of  about  7  feet  was  used. 

Less  than  a  mile  above  Powell's  is  Burnett's  unimproved  site,  where  the  available  fall  is  said  to  be  about  6  feet. 

A  short  distance  above  this  is  Pace's  mill.  The  dam  is  300  feet  long,  from  which  a  race  450  feet  long  leads 
to  the  mill,  where  a  fall  of  12  feet  is  used.  Mr.  Pace  has  a  flour-  and  corn-mill,  with  four  pair  of  stones,  a  saw-mill, 
wagon-shop,  and  blacksmith-shop.  He  writes  that  upon  his  property,  which  extends  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
along  the  river,  there  are  two  sites  not  used — one  below  the  mill,  with  10  feet  fall,  and  another  above,  with  13  feet 
fall — available,  with  a  dam  4  feet  high,  600  feet  long,  and  a  race  600  feet  long. 

Table  of  power  at  Pace's  mill. 


State  of  flow  (s 

ee  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Cubic  feet. 

lfootfall. 

12  feet  fall. 

192 

21.8 

220 

237 

27.0 

325 

1      1, 209 

12 

980 

111.3 

1,  335 

1  273 

31.0 

370 

The  next  mill  above  Pace's  is  Love's,  about  three  miles  above,  but  between  the  two  it  is  said  that  there  are 
several  sites  not  used.  The  river  is  said  to  be  quite  rapid  at  this  point  of  its  course.  At  Love's  mill  there  is  a  dam 
across  the  river  700  feet  long,  and  the  fall  at  the  mill  is  said  to  be  11  feet,  the  mill  being  a  grist-  and  saw-mill. 

726 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 
Table  of  potcer  at  Love's  mill. 


67 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


1,155 


Fall. 


Feet. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


1  footfall. 
20.9 
26.1 
110.8 
29.5 


11  feet  fall. 

230 
280 
1,  220 
320 


Above  Love's  mill  we  come  to  several  unimproved  sites,  among  which  mention  was  made  of  Jeanes'  and  Stephen 
Eobinson's,  but  the  first  improved  power  above  is  some  ten  miles  farther  up,  in  Alamance  county,  near  the  Orange  line. 
Before  leaving  Chatham  county  it  may  be  said  that,  according  to  the  foregoing,  it  is  clear  that  Haw  river  offers  a  very 
large  amount  of  power  in  its  course  through  the  county,  very  little  of  which  is  utilized,  but  a  large  proportion  of 
which  is  available.  The  bed  and  banks  are  almost  everywhere  good,  the  country  hilly,  but  not  mountainous,  and 
the  climate  healthy.  A  disadvantage  in  the  use  of  the  small  falls  which  have  been  mentioned  lies  in  the  sudden 
and  large  rise  to  which  the  river  is  subject  on  account  of  the  narrowness  of  the  bottoms.  Although  in  some  places 
the  fall  is  considerable  in  a  short  distance,  yet  on  the  whole  the  declivity  of  the  stream  seems  to  be  tolerably  uniform, 
while  the  width  of  the  stream  seems  to  be  on  an  average  some  400  feet  or  more.  I  desire  to  expressly  state  here, 
however,  that  none  of  the  data  given  regarding  Haw  river,  except  the  facts  regarding  the  Bland  mill,  were  derived 
from  personal  examination,  for,  on  account  of  their  inaccessibility,  I  did  not  visit  any  sites  except  the  one  mentioned. 

The  next  power  above  Love's  mill  is  Saxapahaw  factory,  near  Saxapahaw.  The  dam  extends  entirely  across  the 
stream,  and  is  about  375  feet  long  and  3  feet  high,  built  of  wood  in  1878  and  1879,  and  backing  the  water  about  a 
mile,  with  an  average  width  of  350  feet.  A  race  half  a  mile  long  leads  to  the  factory,  where  45  horse-power  is  used, 
with  19  feet  fall.  The  mill  is  a  cotton-mill,  run  night  and  day.  Estimates  of  the  power  will  be  found  in  sufficient 
detail  in  the  table  giving  the  summary.  This  mill  being  above  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Cane  and  several  other 
creeks,  the  stream  is  considerably  smaller  than  at  Love's. 

The  next  power  above  Saxapahaw  is  Newlin's  grist-mill.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  600  feet  long  and  6 
feet  high,  built  in  1875  at  a  cost  of  $3,500;  and  from  it  leads  a  race,  485  yards  long  and  10  feet  wide,  conducting  the 
water  to  the  mill,  where  the  fall  is  10  feet,  the  power  used  being  probably  some  40  horse-power  net,  with  three 
turbine- wheels.  The  pond  covers  some  30  or  40  acres,  with  an  average  depth  of  6  feet  or  over,  but  the  stream  is  not 
thrown  out  of  its  banks.  This  power  is  located  near  the  town  of  Cedar  Cliffs,  Alamance  county,  and  this  property, 
with  350  acres  of  land,  is  for  sale.    I  have  estimated  the  power  in  the  table  on  page  68. 

The  next  power  is  an  unimproved  site  belonging  to  the  Falls  of  Neuse  Manufacturing  Company,  where  there  is 
said  to  be  10  feet  fall.   A  grist-mill  was  formerly  located  here. 

The  next  mill  is  the  cotton  factory  of  the  Falls  of  Keuse  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Swepsonville,  Alamance 
county.  The  dam  is  of  wood,  550  feet  long,  5£  feet  high,  built  in  1876  at  a  cost  of  about  $3,000,  and  from  it  a  race 
450  feet  long  leads  to  the  mill,  where  the  fall  is  13  feet,  and  the  power  used  150  horse-power.  Full  capacity  can  be 
obtained  all  the  time.  The  factory  is  run  night  and  day.  Connected  with  it  is  a  grist-  and  a  saw-mill.  The  factory 
was  burned  in  June,  1881,  but  is  being  rebuilt. 

We  next  come  to  the  Granite  cotton-mills  of  T.  M.  Holt,  at  Haw  river,  just  above  the  crossing  of  the  North 
Carolina  railroad.  The  dam  was  built  in  1857,  and  is  constructed  of  crib-work  filled  with  rock.  Its  length  is  350 
feet,  and  its  height  about  10  feet ;  and  it  backs  the  water  some  2  miles,  but  does  not  throw  the  river  out  of  its  banks 
to  any  extent.  The  factory  is  located  directly  at  the  dam,  on  the  east  side  of  river,  and  the  power  used  is  100  horse- 
power, with  a  fad  of  11£  feet,  there  never  being  any  scarcity  of  water.  My  estimate  of  the  power  is  given  in  the 
summary. 

At  the  head  of  Mr.  Holt's  pond  is  Seller's  mill,  a  site  not  now  used,  and  owned  by  the  Falls  of  Neuse 
Manufacturing  Company ;  said  to  have  about  12  feet  fall. 

At  Big  Falls,  3  miles  from  Graham  station,  on  the  North  Carolina  railroad,  Mr.  G.  W.  Swepson,  of  Raleigh,  is 
building  a  cotton  factory,  to  use  13  feet  fall,  and  expecting  to  get  150  horse-power  all  the  time.  If  my  estimates 
given  in  the  summary  are  correct,  this  ^ill  be  obtained  only  part  of  the  time  unless  the  pond  is  large.  There  was 
formerly  a  cotton-mill  at  this  place,  but  it  was  burned  down. 

About  half  a  mile  above  Big  Falls  are  the  Carolina  cotton-mills  (J.  H.  &  W.  E.  Holt  &  Co.).  The  dam  was  built 
in  1868,  and  is  a  frame  dam,  with  stone  abutments,  about  240  feet  long  and  4  feet  high,  making  a  pond  of  3  acres, 
and  giving  a  fall  of  15  feet  at  the  mills,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  below.  A  power  is  used  of  11,0  horse-power,  which 
can  be  obtained  all  the  time,  and  without  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond  much  in  the  12  hours  during 
which  the  mill  is  run. 

Half  a  mile  above  a  cotton  factory,  to  be  called  Glencoe  mills,  is  being  built  by  J.  H.  Holt  &  Bro.,  on  a  site 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Company  mills  (cotton).    The  dam,  constructed  of  stone  and  logs,  was  built  long  ago,  and 

727 


68 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


is  about  250  feet  long  and  8  feet  high,  giving  a  fall  of  13£  feet,  with  a  race  400  yards  long.  It  is  expected  to  obtain 
152  horse-power  at  all  times,  but  according  to  my  estimates  I  doubt  if  this  can  be  done  unless  the  pond  is  large. 

Two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  company's  shops,  on  the  North  Carolina  railroad,  is  an  old  grist-mill  (Ireland's), 
not  now  used,  although  the  fall  is  said  to  be  10  or  12  feet. 

The  highest  power  on  the  river  is  about  5  miles  from  Gibsonville  station,  on  the  North  Carolina  railroad, 
Although  there  was  a  mill  there  long  ago,  the  power  has  for  some  time  been  lying  idle,  but  has  been  recently 
improved  by  Messrs.  Gant  &  Davidson,  who  have  a  cotton  factory,  flour-  and  saw-mill  there,  using  a  fall  of  15 
feet,  with  150  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  for  eight  months  of  the  year,  and  averaging  75  horse-power  during 
the  remaining  four.  The  dam  is  250  yards  above  the  mill,  and  is  about  200  feet  long  and  4£  feet  high,  backing  the 
water  only  a  few  hundred  yards.  -  It  was  built  about  forty  years  ago,  and  is  constructed  of  rock.  It  is  stated  that 
the  fall  at  this  place  could  be  increased  to  some  20  feet. 

From  the  above  sketch  it  will  be  seen  that  the  water-power  on  Haw  river  is  quite  extensively  used,  especially  on 
the  upper  parts,  where  the  stream  is  more  accessible.  Haw  and  Deep  rivers  are,  in  fact,  the  principal  manufacturing 
streams  of  North  Carolina,  together  with  the  south  fork  of  the  Catawba,  yet  to  be  described. 

Summary  of  power  of  Haw  river. 


Locality. 


Bland  mill  

Hartsaw's  site  

Moore's  mill  

Unimproved  site  

Seven  Island  shoal  

Henley's  mill  

Brown's  mill  

Bynum's  site  

Bynum's  factory  

Powell's  site  

Burnett's  site  

Pace's  mill  

Several  unimproved  sites  . 
Love's  mill  


Saxapahaw  factory  

Newlin's  mill  

Unimproved  site  of  Palls  of 

Neuse  Manufacturing  Co. 
Factory  of  Palls  of  Neuse 

Manufacturing  Company. 

Granite  cotton-mills  

Seller's  mill  

Big  Falls  factory  


Carolina  mills. 
Glencoe  mills  . 


Ireland  site  

Gant  &  Davidson's  mills. 


Miles. 

3.0 

5.0 

8.0 
10.0 
12.0 
13.5 
15.0 
16.5 
17.5 
18.  0± 
18.  5± 
20.  0± 


22. 0± 


38.  0± 
41.  0± 


45.  0± 

50.  0± 
52. 0± 
55. 0± 

55.  0± 
56. 0± 


Sq.  miles. 
1,675 
1,  320 
1,  300  ± 
1,295± 
1,290± 
1,285 
1,275± 
1,260± 
1,250 
1,  240  ± 
1,230± 
1, 209 


Rainfall. 


1, 155+ 

967 
935  ± 


670  ± 

585 


494 

490  ± 
475  ± 

460  ± 
450<?) 


Total  fall. 


w 


Feet. 
7.0 
6.0 

22.0 
8.0 
7.0 

16.0 
7.0 
8.0 

16.0 
7.0 
6.0 

12.0 


11.0 

19.0 
10.0 
10.0 

13.0 

11.5 
12.0 
13.0 

15.0 
13.5 

10.0 
15.0 


Feet. 


5,280 


Horse-power  available, 
gross.* 


225 
150 
525 
190 
170 
360 
165 
190 
375 
155 
130 
260 


230 


310 
160 


140 
110 


95 


110 
100 


a  s 

3  ce 
3  £ 

r 


270 
180 
660 
240 
210 
480 
200 
230 
450 
190 
165 
325 


280 


460 
200 


190 
150 


130 


150 
140 


90 
130 


it 

as 


is 


1,  050 
720 

2,600 
940  I 
825  | 

1,  888 
800 
900 

1,825 
780 
670 

1,335 


1,220 

1,800 
940 


870 
670 


640 


740 
640 


460 

675 


300 
200 
750 
270 
240 
540 
230 
260 
510 
220 
190 
370 


320 


460 

230 


220 
170 


150 


175 
160 


110 
150 


Utilized. 


20 


Z50 


Feet. 
7.0 


10.0 


80 


75  ± 


8.0 


16.0 


12.0 


19.0 
10.0 


150 
100 


110 


150 


13.0 
1L5 


15.0 


15.0 


■si 


13 
^14 


29 


39  ± 


19 
34 


136 
117 


125 


Remarks. 


Mill  at  dam. 
Not  improved. 


Unimproved. 

Said  to  be  not  in  use. 


Mill  burnt ;  dam  itill  there. 
Not  improved. 


Probably  not  over  50  horse- 
power used. 


1  See  description. 

1  See  description. 

Being  built;  expect  150  horse- 
power. 

Being  built ;  expect  152  horse- 
power. 


210 


*For  explanation  of  powers  estimated  see  introduction,  pages  18  to  21.    Power  much  larger  than  in  last  column  during  nine  months  of  the  year. 

THE  TRIBUTARIES  OF  HAW  RIVER^ 

The  first  considerable  tributary  met  with  "in  ascending  the  river  is  New  Hope  river,  which  enters  from  the  west, 
after  flowing  through  Orange  and  Chatham  counties,  and  draining  an  area  of  some  317  square  miles.  The 
substance  of  what  1 1 could  learn  regarding  this  stream  is  that  it  is  generally  sluggish,  flowing  through  a  level 
country,  and  without  water-power  of  any  importance,  the  only  mills  being  a  few  small  local  grist-mills.  The  power 
used  is  tabulated  farther  on. 

The  succeeding  tributaries  of  the  Haw  river  are  small  and  unimportant  until  we  reach  Cane  creek,  which 
enters  from  the  west,  at  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  Orange  county.    It  rises  in  the  extreme  west  of  Alamance 

738- 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


69 


county,  with  some  tributaries  from  Chatham,  and  flows  very  nearly  due  east  and  only  a  mile  or  so  from  the  county- 
line,  but  without  leaving  Alamance.  It  has  more  fall  than  the  streams  entering  Haw  river  from  the  east,  but  is 
specially  mentioned  chiefly  on  account  of  its  having  one  factory,  the  Clover  Orchard  cotton  factory,  which  is 
situated  some  6  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  length  of  the  stream,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  17  miles,  and  its 
drainage  area  73  square  miles.  The  factory  above  referred  to,  with  which  is  connected  a  grist-mill,  uses  a  fall  of 
23  feet  and  50  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  during  nine  months  of  the  year,  the  average  during  the 
remaining  three  months  being  25  horse-power,  during  which  period  auxiliary  steain-power  is  used.  The  mill  being 
run  only  during  12  hours,  and  there  being  no  waste  at  night  in  dry  seasons,  the  natural  flow  of  the  stream  would 
afford  only,  say,  10  horse-power  in  low  seasons,  and  probably  much  less  when  at  its  lowest.  The  dam  is  of  rock,  120 
feet  long  and  17  feet  high,  and  backs  the  water  about  a  mile ;  the  factory  is  300  yards  below. 

The  next  important  tributary  is  Alamance  creek,  which  rises  in  the  eastern  part  of  Guilford  county,  pursues  a 
general  direction  nearly  due  east,  emptying  into  Haw  river  about  4  miles  below  the  railroad  crossing.  Its  length 
is  in  the  neighborhood  of  25  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  about  237  square  miles.  It  receives  as  tributaries  two 
creeks  called  Little  Alamance,  from  the  north,  and  Stinking  Quarter  creek,  from  the  south.  There  are  only  two 
powers  on  the  stream  worth  mentioning,  viz :  Alamance  cotton  factory  (E.  M.  Holt's  Sons)  and  Bellemont  cottom 
mills  (L.  B.  &  L.  Holt).  The  Alamance  factory  uses  a  fall  of  12£  feet  and  50  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained 
during  nine  months  of  the  year,  while  the  latter  uses  a  fall  of  12  feet  and  175  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained 
for  six  or  seven  months,  the  power  sinking  in  low  seasons  to  20  horse-power,  and  steam-power  to  the  extent  of 
80  horse-power  being  used  during  dry  weather. 

The  Beedy  fork  of  Haw  river,  and  the  other  tributaries  and  forks  in  the  upper  part  of  the  drainage-basin,  offer 
some  power,  utilized  to  some  extent  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  but  have  no  power  worthy  of  special  mention.  The 
country  is  quite  flat  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basin,  and  there  are  no  falls  in  the  streams. 

THE  DEEP  BIVEB. 

This  stream  rises  in  the  western  part  of  Guilford  county,  North  Carolina,  near  the  sources  of  the  Haw  river, 
flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  through  Bandolph  county  and  into  Moore,  where  it  bends  quite  abruptly,  and 
flows  a  little  north  of  east  into  Chatham  county,  where  it  joins  the  Haw  to  form  the  Cape  Fear.  Its  length  is 
about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Haw  river,  and  its  drainage  area  is  1,350  square  miles.  It  has  only  one  important 
tributary,  Bocky  river,  from  the  north,  which  enters  Deep  river  about  4  miles  above  Lockville,  and  drains  an  area 
of  205  square  miles,  all  in  Chatham  county.  The  most  important  towns  on  Deep  river  are  Lockville,  near  the 
ftouth,  Frankliusville,  Cedar  Falls,  and  Bandleman's  Mills,  in  Bandolph  county. 

The  drainage-basin  of  Deep  river  resembles  that  of  Haw  river  so  closely  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  describe  it 
in  detail.  In  its  lower  part  the  river  flows,  with  a  tortuous  course,  through  a  narrow  valley  with  abrupt  banks, 
and,  in  a  few  cases,  perpendicular  and  overhanging  cliffs  some  100  feet  high. 

The  rainfall  on  the  basin  is  a  little  greater  than  on  that  of  Haw  river,  with  rather  more  rain  in  winter,  as  will 
be  seen  from  the  maps  in  the  Smithsonian  publications.  The  flow  of  the  river  is  rather  more  variable,  owing 
probably  to  the  fact  that  a  greater  number  of  its  tributaries  rise  in  the  slate  country  and  become  nearly  dry  in 
summer.  For  the  same  reason,  the  freshets  are,  on  the  whole,  more  violent,  and  the  river  rises  oftener  above  its 
banks,  overflowing  the  bottoms  on  the  lower  part  to  a  depth  of  10  or  12  feet.  On  the  upper  part  of  the  river  there 
are  probably  sites  for  reservoirs,  although  Guilford  and  the  neighboring  counties  are,  on  the  whole,  not  very 
favorable  for  their  construction,  being  too  flat. 

The  following  are  some  elevations  on  the  stream,  with  distances  measured  from  the  map,  and  resulting 
declivities : 


Place. 

Distance  from 
month. 

Elevation 
ahove  tide. 

Distance  be- 
tween points. 

Difference  of 
elevation. 

Fall  perm  ilebe- 
tween  points. 

Mouth,  or  confluence  with  Haw  

Near  Egvpt  mine*  

Milet. 

0 
14 
88 
100 

Feet. 

133 
213 
625 
762  ± 

Miles. 

}    ■   ■   -  14 
\    -  74 

\    -  12 

Feet. 

-  -     -  80 

-  -     -  412 

-  -     -  137 

Feet. 

■     -     -  5.7 
-     -     -  5.6 
•     -     -  11.4 

Northern  part  of  Randolph  county  

Crossing  of  Piedmont  Air-Line  railroad  t  

*  I  think  there  is  some  error  in  this  elevation,  or  in  that  at  the  mouth,  and  that  the  fall  hetween  the  two  is  not  so  great. 

t  For  this  elevation  I  am  again  indebted  to  Mr.  T.  M.  R.  Talcott,  general  manager  of  the  road,  who  took  particular  pains  to  obtain  it. 


From  this  it  appears  that  the  fall  of  the  stream  is  not  much  different  from  that  of  Haw  river,  though  greater 
in  its  upper  part.  * 
There  are  no  records  of  continuous  gaugings  of  the  river. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  map,  the  river  is  very  inaccessible,  there  being  no  railroad  within  easy  reach  except 
at  the  extreme  lower  and  upper  parts.  Nevertheless,  a  number  of  manufacturing  establishments  have  been  located 
at  various  points,  especially  in  Bandolph  county,  shipping  their  products  by  the  Piedmont  Air-Line  railroad. 

S29 


70 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  following  are  the  mills  and  sites,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn  them : 

The  first  power  on  the  river  is  at  Lockville,  about  2  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  falls,  known  as 
Pullin's  falls,  were  overcome  by  the  Navigation  Company,  and  navigation  established  around  them  by  means  of  2 
dams  and  a  canal  leading  down  the  river  from  the  lower  one,  with  an  outlet-lock  into  the  river  at  the  lower  end 
of  the  town,  with  a  single  lift  of  24  feet.  The  lower  dam  is  600  or  700  feet  long,  11  feet  high,  built  of  crib-work 
filled  with  stone,  with  a  vertical  back,  and  a  face  sloping  down  to  about  1  foot  above  low  water,  the  base  being  30 
feet  wide,  up  and  down  stream.  It  is  said  to  have  cost  about  $14,000.  It  does  not  extend  straight  across  the  river, 
but  has  the  shape  of  a  letter  V,  with  the  apex  up  stream,  and  backs  the  water  half  a  mile,  with  an  average  width 
of  about  700  feet,  to  the  upper  Lockville  dam.  The  foundation  is  rock,  and  the  dam  is  not,  to  any  great  extent, 
liable  to  injury  by  freshets.  The  canal  which  leads  from  the  dam  is  less  than  half  a  mile  long,  with  a  guard-lock  at 
its  head  having  a  lift  of  a  foot  or  so,  and  the  high  lock  at  its  outlet  below.  All  along  this  canal  are  magnificent 
sites  for  mills,  which  could  use  a  fall  varying  between  11  and  24  feet,  with  perfectly  safe  locations.  The  following 
are  the  mills  now  in  use,  all  owned  by  the  Navigation  Company,  viz :  1  cotton-gin,  14  feet  fall ;  1  saw- mill,  16  feet; 
1  grist-mill,  16  feet;  1  foundry,  18  feet;  1  grist-mill,  18  feet;  1  machine-shop,  18  feet;  all  on  the  canal,  fed  directly 
from  it,  and  discharging  the  water  into  the  river.  The  aggregate  power  used  by  these  mills  is  not  exactly  known, 
but  is,  perhaps,  in  the  neighborhood  of  150  horse-power.  There  is  always  a  waste  of  water,  and  there  are  about  15 
days  in  the  year  when  there  is  trouble  with  backwater,  the  river  at  the  outlet-lock  being  probably  less  than  300 
feet  wide.  In  high  freshets  the  water  rises  5  feet  on  the  dam.  The  canal  is  40  feet  wide,  and  originally  6  feet 
deep.  With  a  fall  of  a  foot  to  the  mile  it  could  probably  carry  the  entire  flow  of  the  stream  at  low  water ;  so  that 
the  entire  power  at  this  place  is  really  at  present  available,  except  that  the  wood-work  of  all  the  dams  of  the 
company  is  in  bad  condition,  badly  rotten,  and  there  is  considerable  leakage. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  place  being  about  1,350  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the  flow  and  power  as  in 
the  following  table : 

Table  of  power  available  at  Lockville. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  por 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

TJtili 

Horse-power, 
net. 

zed. 

Fall. 

Percentum 
of  minimum 
utilized. 

Minimum  low  season  

Low  seasons,  dry  years  

■Square  miles. 
1,350 

Feet. 

24 

Cubic  feet, 
f  216 
256 
1,080 
I  293 

1  foot  fall. 
24.5 
29.1 
122.7 
33.3 

24  feet  faU. 

590 
700 
2,950 
800 

I        150  ± 

Feet. 
14-18 

| 

25 

I  think  that  in  low  water  the  reservoir-room  would  be  sufficient  to  allow  of  the  concentration  of  power  into  12 
hours  to  such  an  extent  as  to  increase  the  minimum  power  by  50  per  cent,  at  least. 

This  power  is  an  excellent  one  in  all  respects.  A  branch  of  the  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad  leads 
directly  to  the  mills.  There  is  an  abundance  of  fine  building-stone  in  the  neighborhood.  There  is  no  trouble  with 
ice,  and  little  with  high  water.  The  river  is  navigable  up  to  Carbon  ton,  so  that  the  copper  deposits  near  Egypt, 
the  coal-beds,  and  the  iron-ores  of  the  valley  are  easy  of  access.  The  location  is  healthy,  and  indeed  there  seems 
to  be  no  reason  why  a  large  amount  of  power  should  not  be  utilized  at  this  place. 

The  second  Lockville  dam,  half  a  mile  above  the  first  one,  is  of  similar  construction,  and  extends  straight  across 
the  river,  its  length  being  about  700  feet,  its  height  16  feet,  and  its  pond  2  miles  in  length,  up  to  the  Gorgas  canal, 
with  an  average  width  of  about  600  feet.  It  would  probably  cost  some  $12,000  to  build  it  now.  It  is  in  bad  condition, 
the  timbers  rotted  and  the  stones  gone,  but  could  easily  be  put  in  order.  The  lock  at  its  north  end  is  115  feet  long, 
18  feet  wide,  with  a  lift  of  16  feet.  The  banks  between  this  dam  and  the  one  below  are  steep  and  rocky  on  the 
north  side  and  shelving  on  the  south.  The  available  power  here  could  best  be  used  on  the  south  side,  unless  it 
were  desired  to  use  it  at  Lockville,  in  which  case  a  canal  or  flume  should  be  built  on  the  north  side.  A  canal  20  feet 
wide  and  6  feet  deep  would  probably  suffice  to  carry  the  minimum  flow,  with  a  fall  of  1£  feet  per  mile.  During  the 
war  there  was  a  grist-mill  on  the  right  bank,  but  the  dam  was  not  sufficiently  secured,  and  it  was  washed  around 
at  this  end.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1874,  when  the  last  company  put  the  works  in  order,  and  150  or  200  feet  of  the  south 
part  were  put  in,  at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  several  accidents  happening  during  the  work.  The  power  at  this  dam  is  easily 
available,  although  there  have  been  no  steps  taken  to  utilize  it.  The  amount  of  water  is  the  same  as  at  the  lower 
dam,  and  the  available  power  less  in  proportion  to  the  fall,  i.  e.,  two-thirds  of  that  in  the  last  table.  In  this  case, 
too,  the  reservoir- room*  would,  I  think,  be  ample  to  allow  of  the  concentration  of  power  and  to  render  double  the 
low-season  flow  available  during  12  hours. 

Two  and  a  half  miles  above  the  second  Lockville  dam  is  the  Gorgas  dam,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Rocky  river, 
extending  straight  across  the  river,  about  600  feet  long  and  7  feet  high,  built  of  cribs  filled  with  stone,  vertical  on 

730 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


71 


both  sides,  and  with,  a  width  of  6  or  8  feet,  and  backing  the  water  up  to  the  Endor  dam,  a  distance  of  about  7 
miles  or  a  little  less,  with  an  average  width  of  about  500  feet.  This  dam  is  at  the  head  of  a  canal  half  a  mile  long, 
the  third  of  the  navigation  canals,  with  guard-  and  outlet-locks,  at  the  latter  of  which  is  a  grist-mill  taking  water  from 
the  canal,  using  7  to  8  feet  fall  and  perhaps  20  or  25  horse-power,  with  2  run  of  stones.  Full  capacity  can  be  secured 
all  the  time,  except  for  about  15  days  in  the  year,  when  the  river  is  high.  The  location  is  a  very  favorable  one  for 
building,  and  all  the  available  power  could  easily  be  utilized  along  the  canal,  which  is  of  ample  capacity  to  carry 
the  dry-weather  flow.  The  drainage  area  above  this  place  is  about  1,300  square  miles,  and  the  amount  of  water  and 
power  less  than  at  Lockville.  I  have  estimated  it  as  in  the  following  table.  The  pond  being  7  miles  long,  there  is 
no  donbt  that  the  low-season  flow  could  be  concentrated  into  12  hours,  so  that  the  power  given  in  the  table  would 
be  doubled  with  a  small  diminution  of  head.  Although  this  place  is  not  quite  so  conveniently  located  as  Lockville, 
it  is  easy  of  access  from  that  place,  as  well  as  from  Eygpt,  on  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  railroad : 


Table  of  power  at  Gorgas  dam. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

IT  til 

Horse-power, 
net. 

lzed. 
Fall. 

Per  cent,  of 
minimum 
utilized. 

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage  

Square  miles. 
1         1, 300 

Feet. 

7 

Cubic  feet, 
f  208 
247 
1,040 
I  282 

1  foot  fall.      7  feet  fall. 
23.6  !  165 
28.1  200 
118.  2  1  830 
32.1  225 

1 

I  20 

Feet. 

7 

18 

The  Endor  dam  is  about  400  feet  long  and  4  feet  high,  crossing  the  river  in  the  shape  of  a  Y,  with  a  vertical 
face  and  inclined  back  half  way  across,  and  an  inclined  face  and  vertical  back  for  the  remaining  distance.  It  is 
built  of  wood,  and  ponds  the  water  back  to  the  Gulf  dam,  a  distance  of  10  miles.  As  far  as  the  location  goes,  it 
could  be  used  for  power,  but  the  fall  is  so  small  that  it  would  not  be  advisable.  It  is  not  necessary  to  consider  it 
further.   The  estimated  power  is  as  follows : 


Table  of  power  at  Endor  dam. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

IT  til 

Horse-power, 
net. 

ized. 

FaU. 

Per  cent,  of 
minimum 
utilized. 

Maximum,  with  storage  

Low  season,  dry  years  

Square  miles. 
|         1, 075 

Feet. 

4 

Cubic  feet, 
r  160 
200 
900 

I  225 

1  foot  fall. 
18.3 
22.6 
102.0 
25.6 

4  feet  fall. 

70 
90 
400 
100 

1  ' 

Feet. 

0 

0 

The  Gulf  dam  is  a  crib-dam,  with  vertical  face  and  sloping  back,  extending  straight  across  the  river,  about  400 
feet  long,  8  feet  high,  and  backing  the  water  up  to  the  Oarbonton  dam,  6  miles  above,  with  an  average  width  of 
pond  of,  say  300  feet.  At  one  end  is  a  grist-mill  with  4  run  of  stones,  using  8  feet  fall  and  about  40  horse-power. 
The  following  table  gives  estimated  flow  and  power,  and,  as  in  the  former  cases,  it  is  probable  that  the  power 
might,  in  low  seasons,  be  increased  to  a  considerable  extent  by  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond  during 
working  hours: 

Table  of  power  at  Gulf  dam. 

  •  » 


State  of  flow  (9ee  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

TJtih 

Horse-power, 
net. 

zed. 

Fall. 

Per  cent,  of 
minimum 
utilized. 

Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage  

Low  season,  dry  years  ,  

i 

Square  miles. 
•  1,047 

Feet. 

8 

Cubic  feet. 
,  157 
194 

j  900 

{  222 

1  foot  faU. 
17.8 
22.0 
102.0 
25.0 

8  feet  fall. 

140 
175 
820 
200 

1 

Feet. 

8 

34  ± 

731 


72 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Carbouton  darn  is  partly  a  frame  dam,  constructed  of  triangular  wooden  frames,  set  lengthwise  up  and  down  the 
river,  and  planked  over,  and  partly  a  crib-dam,  and  is  300  or  400  feet  long  and  9  or  10  feet  high,  extending  straight 
across  the  stream,  and  ponding  the  water  for  6  miles,  the  average  width  being  about  200  feet.  The  power  is  utilized 
for  a  grist  mill,  saw-mill  and  cotton-gin,  using  about  35  horse-power  and  10  feet  fall.  The  available  power  is  given 
in  the  table. 

The  last  of  the  navigation  dams  is  Hancock's,  now  called  Tyser's,  12J  miles  above  Carbonton.  It  is  of  wood, 
300  feet  long  and  10  feet  high,  with  a  pond  3  miles  long  and  200  to  300  feet  wide.  The  power  is  used  by  a  grist-  and 
saw-mill  and  cotton-gin — a  mill  at  each  end  of  the  dam — using  12  feet  fall,  and  a  total  of  some  60  or  70  horse-power. 
The  available  power  is  given  below : 

Table  of  power  at  Carbonton  dam. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

TJtiL 

Horse-power, 
net. 

zed. 

Fall. 

Per  cent,  of 
minimum 
utilized. 

Square  miles. 

}         1, 010 
J 

Feet. 

10  ± 

Cubic  feet. 

150 
180 
880 
206 

1  foot  fall. 
17.0 
20.5 
100.0 
33.5 

10  feet  fall. 

170 
200 
1,  000 
235 

35 

Feet. 

10 

28 

Table  of  power  at  Tyser's  dam. 

State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Utilized. 

Per  cent,  of 
minimum 
utilized. 

Horse-power, 
net. 

Fall. 

Square  miles. 
814 

Feet. 
10  ± 

Cubic  feet. 

123 
147 
716 
168 

1  foot  fall. 
14  0 
16.7 
81.4 
19.1 

10  feet  fall. 

140 
170 
800 
190 

60± 

Feet. 

12? 

57 

Carbonton  is  the  head  of  navigation.  The  foundation  of  a  lock  was  put  in  there,  but  the  lock  was  never 
completed,  so  that  boats  never  ascended  into  the  pool  of  the  Carbonton  dam.  I  will  now  briefly  mention  and 
describe  in  order  the  remaining  powers  on  the  river,  referring  to  the  summary  of  power  for  estimates  :* 

1st.  At  Prosperity,  Moore  county,  E.  K  Moffitt's  grist-mill;  fall,  8  feet;  30  horse-power;  dam,  wood  and  stone,  ' 
275  feet  long,  10  feet  high. 

2d.  Big  falls  (belonging  to  N.  D.  Woody,  Shaw's  Mills,  Guilford  county),  in  Moore  county,  about  3  miles 
above  Prosperity ;  unimproved.  Said  to  be  an  excellent  site,  12  miles  from  the  proposed  line  of  the  Cape  Fear  and 
Yadkin  Valley  railroad  and  23  miles  from  the  Ealeigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  railroad.  The  fall  has  been 
estimated  at  18  feet,  with  a  2-foot  dam  at  head;  length  of  shoal,  three-eighths  of  a  mile.  The  bed  is  rock,  banks 
favorable;  width  of  stream,  about  350  feet.  « 

3d.  Unimproved  privilege  belonging  to  Elias  Eitter,  esq.,  Carter's  Mills,  Moore  county.    Fall  unknown. 

1th.  Howard  &  Moffitt's  grist-  and  saw-mill,  Moore  county,  near  the  Randolph  line.  Stone  dam,  310  feet  long, 
10  feet  high,  backing  the  water  3  miles.    Fall  utilized,  12  feet,  and  30  horse-power  at  all  times. 

5th.  Unimproved  power,  Randolph  county;  said  to  be  12  to  15  feet. 

6th.  Enterprise  Manufacturing  Company's  mills,  at  Faust's  Mills,  Randolph  county;  stone  dam,  300  feet  long, 
3  feet  high,  built  in  1858  at  a  cost  of  $300,  ponding  about  18  acres.  Head-race,  672  feet ;  fall  utilized,  15  feet ;  horse- 
power used,  40.  The  company  have  a  cotton-mill,  saw-mill,  and  flour-mill.  They  say  that  they  have  an  additional 
fall  of  5  feet  available,  making  20  feet  in  all.    There  is  always  a  waste  of  water. 

7th.  Unimproved  site,  2  or  3  miles  above  Enterprise  mills,  known  as  the  Cox  falls,  supposed  to  have  a  fall  of 
12  or  14  feet. 

8th.  Unimproved  site,  4  miles  farther  up,  known  as  the  Allen  falls,  supposed  to  be  12  to  20  feet  available, 
about  8  miles  from  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  railroad.  Length  of  fall,  about  half  a  mile;  rock  bed  and 
good  banks. 

*It  may  be  stated  here  that  most  of  the  information  regarding  Deep  river,  in  Randolph  county,  is  due  to  the  Hon.  A.  S.  Homey, 
who  furnished  a  long  list  of  powers. 
732 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


73 


9th.  Columbia  Manufacturing  Company  (formerly  Deep  Eiver  Manufacturing  Company).  The  dam  is  of  stone, 
about  350  feet  long  and  12  feet  high,  built  about  1850  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  backing  the  water  If  miles,  with  an 
average  width  of  300  feet. .  Head-race,  1,200  feet  long;  fall  used,  12  feet  at  mills  and  14  at  factory,  and  about  100 
horse-power  in  all.  The  company  have  a  cotton  factory,  grist-  and  saw-mills,  cotton-gin,  and  wool-cards,  all  driven 
from  same  dam  and  canal,  the  factory  using  about  70  horse-power.   Water  always  wastes. 

10th.  Eandolph  Manufacturing  Company,  Franklinsville,  2  miles  above  Columbia  Manufacturing  Company. 
Dam  of  wood  and  stone,  about  350  feet  long,  8  feet  high,  giving  a  fall  of  12 J  feet,  with  a  race  of  450 feet;  utilized 
power,  50  horse-power,  which  can  be  secured  at  all  times.  The  mill  is  a  cotton  factory.  In  low  water  the  water  is 
drawn  down  below  the  crest  of  the  dam,  the  mill  being  run  during  12  hours. 

11th.  Franklinsville  Manufacturing  Company  (cotton-bag  factory,  grist-  and  saw-mills,  wool-carding  machine, 
and  cotton-gin).  The  dam  is  of  stone,  350  feet  long,  0  feet  high ;  length  of  head-race  2,000  feet ;  fall  utilized,  19 
feet;  power,  80  horse-power,  which  can  be  secured  at  all  times  by  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond  in  dry 
seasons. 

12th.  Unimproved  site,  a  mile  or  less  farther  up  stream,  said  to  have  15  to  20  feet  available  within  a  distance 
of  rather  over  half  a  mile.  Good  location  for  a  dam,  with  rock  bottom  and  banks,  known  as  the  Eeuben  Aldred  site. 
All  accounts  agree  in  stating  this  to  be  a  valuable  privilege. 

13th.  Grist-mill  of  Cedar  Falls  Manufacturing  Company,  about  a  mile  above  No.  12.  Dam  of  stone  and  wood, 
250  feet  long,  8  feet  high,  ponding  2  acres,  built  in  1851  at  a  cost  of  about  $6,000  (!).  Length  of  head-race,  500  feet; 
fall  utilized,  14J  feet;  power  used,  some  20  to  30  horse-power;  water  always  wasting. 

14th.  Cedar  Falls  Manufacturing  Company's  cotton  factory,  half  a  mile  above  grist-mill.  Dam  of  stone  and 
wood,  200  feet  long,  6  feet  high,  built  in  3836,  costing  $1,000.  Pond,  1  acre;  head-race,  one-eighth  of  a  mile; 
fall  used,  25J  feet,  and  60  horse-power  at  all  seasons. 

15th.  Unimproved  site,  1  mile  above.    Said  to  be  12  or  15  feet  available. 

16th.  Central  Falls  Manufacturing  Company's  cotton  factory,  now  building,  2  miles  above  No.  15.  Fall  said 
to  be  12  feet. 

17th.  Cotton  factory  now  building  2 J  miles  above  No.  16 ;  fall  about  14  feet. 

18th.  Naomi  Falls  Manufacturing  Company's  cotton  factory  and  grist-mill,  2  miles  farther  up.  Fall  about  10 
or  11  feet ;  power  used  not  stated ;  some  steam  used  for  power. 

19th.  Kandleman  Manufacturing  Company.  Three  cotton  factories,  all  from  one  dam,  half  a  mile  above  No. 
18.  Dam  is  of  stone,  cemented  and  planked,  272  feet  long  and  10  feet  high,  built  in  1878,  costing  $2,200.  The 
pond  is  2  miles  long  and  200  feet  wide.  Fall  used,  11  feet ;  125  horse-power  obtained  during  9  months  by  drawing 
down  the  water  in  the  pond.    Steam  used  to  supplement  water  in  low  seasons. 

20th.  Unimproved  site,  called  Island  Ford,  2  miles  above  last  power.    Said  to  be  10  or  12  feet. 

21st.  Walker's  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  1  mile  farther  up.  Dam  of  wood,  258  feet  long,  8  feet  high  ;  fall  used, 
12  feet ;  power  used  said  to  be  20  to  25  horse-power. 

22d.  Unimproved  site  5  miles  above ;  said  to  be  10  to  12  feet. 

23d.  Col  train's  grist-  and  saw-mill. 

24th.  Freeman's  grist-  and  saw-mill.    Fine  cemented  rock  dam ;  fall,  12  feet. 

The  powers  above  this  are  small,  generally  grist-  and  saw-mills,  with  one  cotton  factory  at  Jamestown,  the 
Oakdale  Manufacturing  Company,  using  19  feet  fall  and  70  horse-power  during  10  months.  During  the  remaining 
two  months  about  50  to  55  horse-power  can  be  obtained  by  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond  during  the  night, 
the  mill  being  run  12  hours.  The  natural  flow  of  the  stream  affords,  therefore,  about  2  horse-power  per  foot  (gross) 
during  the  dry  season  of  ordinary  years,  or  the  flow  is  about  17  cubic  feet  per  second,  and  probably  about  40  to  50 
during  nine  months  of  the  year.  There  are  several  sites  not  used,  one  of  about  8  feet  fall  just  below  the  cotton 
factory,  and  another  of  about  the  same  several  miles  farther  down. 

733 


I 


74 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Summary  of  power  of  Deep  river. 


[N.  B. — The  powers  given  in  this  table  may,  in  most  cases,  be  increased  to  a  large  extent,  and  perhaps  doubled,  if  the  mills  are  run  only  12  hours  and  the  watw 

drawn  down  in  the  ponds  at  night.] 


Locality. 


Lockville,  lower  dam  

Lockville,  upper  dam  

Gorgas  dam  

Endor  dam  

Gulf  dam  

Carbonton  dam  

Tyser's  dam  

Prosperity  mill  

Big  falls  

Unimproved  site  

Howard  &  Momtt's  mill  

Unimproved  power  

Enterprise  factory  

Unimproved  site  

Unimproved  site  

Columbia  Manufacturing 

Company. 
Randolph  Manufacturing 

Company. 
Franklinsville  Manufactur- 
ing Company. 

Unimproved  site  

Cedar  FaUs  Manufacturing 

Company. 
Cedar  Falls  Manufacturing 

Company. 

Unimproved  site  

Central  Falls  Manufacturing 

Company. 

Factory  being  built  

Xaomi  Falls  Manufacturing 

Company. 
Kandleman  Manufacturing 

Company. 


Miles. 
2.0 
2.5 
5.0 
11.7 
21.7 
27.7 
40.2 
47.0  ' 
50.0  i 


Sq.  miles 
1,  350 
1,  350 
1,300 
1,  075  ± 
1,047 
1,010 

814 

784 

746 


53.0 


63.0 
65.0 
68.0 
69.0 

71.  0 

71.5 

72.5 
73.5 

74.0 

75.0 
77.0 

79.5 
81.5 

82.0 


453 
440± 
425  ± 
420  ± 

408 

408 

400  ± 
341 


300  ± 
257 


257 


Kainfall. 


Total  fall. 


w 


Feet. 
24.0 
16.0 
7.0 
4.0 
8.0 
10.  0 
10.0 
10.0 
18  ± 


Feet. 
2,  000 


2,000 


12.0 


20.0 


14.0 
12.5  I. 
19.0  . 


15+ 
14.5 

25.5 


12  ± 


14  ± 
10  ± 


11.0 


3,  000+ 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. t 


590 
390 
165 
70 
140 
170 
140 
125 
210 


118 


112 


700 
470 
200 
90 
175 
200 
170 
155 
250 


150 


150 


100 
70 
110 
'90 


So 


2,950 

1,  950 
825 
400 
820 

1,  000 
800 
780 

1,  340 


800 
925 


600 
500 
800 
600 


o  n 


800 
525 
225 
100 
200 
235 
190 
180 
285 


170 
170 


115 


125 
105 


Utilized. 


150  ± 


Feet. 
14-18 


20 


40 
35 
60 
30 
C 


40 


60-100 

50 
80 
0 

20-30 


(*) 
125 


7.0 


8.0 
10.0 
12.0 

8.0 


12.0 
15.0 


12-14 

12.5 
19.0 


14.5 
25.5 


10± 
11.0 


25± 


18 


130 
130 


Remarks. 


Dam  11  feet. 
Dam  16  feet. 
Dam  7  feet. 
Dam  4  feet. 
Dam  8  feet. 
Dam  10  feet. 
Dam  10  feet 
Dam  10  feet. 

Fall  not  known. 
Dam  10  feet. 

Dam  3  feet. 


Dam  12  feet ;  information 

conflicts. 
Dam  8  feet ;  water  drawn 

down  in  pond. 
Dam  6  feet ;  water  drawn 

down  in  pond. 

Dam  8  feet. 
Dam  6  feet. 


Being  improved. 
Being  improved. 


Dam  10  feet;  full  caps.- 
city  9  months. 


*  Not  stated. 


t  See  pages  18  to  21. 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  DEEP  RIVER. 

The  tributaries  of  Deep  river  are  of  small  consequence,  and  only  one  of  them  is  worthy  of  special  mention, 
viz:  Rocky  river,  which  rises  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Chatham  county  and  flows  southeast,  joining  Deep  river 
just  above  Gorgas  dam.  The  stream  is  utilized  to  a  considerable  extent  by  small  saw-  and  grist-mills,  but,  like 
other  streams  in  the  vicinity,  it  is  subject  to  great  variations  in  flow,  owing  to  its  course  lying  in  the  slate  region. 
The  drainage  area  of  the  stream  is  about  205  square  miles,  and  its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  about  25  miles ;  yet 
during  the  dry  season  the  flow  is  not  sufficient  to  afford  more  than  20  or  25  horse-power,  with  a  fall  of  20  feet. 
There  are  12  mills  on  the  river,  with  falls  of  from  8  to  25  feet,  but  some  sites  are  still  unimproved. 

The  other  tributaries  above  Eocky  river  are  utilized  for  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  but  are  not  of  much 
importance.   Some  of  them  are  nearly  dry  in  summer. 


734 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  of  utilized  power  on  Cape  Fear  river  and  tributaries. 


75 


Name  of  stream. 


Cape  Fear  river  

Northeast  Cape  Fear. 
Do  


South  river  . 

Do.... 
Black  river  . 

Do.-. 


All  other  tributaries  to . 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Haw  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Deep  river  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  te  what. 


Atlantic  

Cape  Fear  

 do  

Northeast  Cape  Fear. 

Do  

Do  

Cape  Fear  

 do  

South  river  

 do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Cape  Fear  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  .  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Haw  river  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  •  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 .do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Cape  Fear  

 do  

 do  


State. 


County. 


North  Carolina  !  Cumberland  . 

 do  I  Pender  

 do   do  

 do  |  Duplin  

 do   do  

 do    do  

 do   Sampson  

 do   Pender  

 do  I  Sampson  


.do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do. 

.a*. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  , 
.do  . 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do  , 
.do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do 


...do  

...  do  

....do   

....do   

Bladen  

...  do   

Cumberland  . 

....do   

....do   

....do   

...do   

....do   

Harnett  

....do  

Wake  

....do  

....do   

Chatham  

Moore  

....do   

Chatham  

...do   

....do   

....do   

Alamance  

....do   

....do   

. .  .Tdo  

....do   

Guilford  

....do   

Rockingham . 

...do   

Chatham  

....do   

....do   

....do   

Orange  

....do   

....do   

....do   

Alamance  

....do   

....do   

....do   

...  do  

...do   

Guilford  

...do   

 do  

Randolph  

Rockingham . 

...do   

Chatham  

...do  

....do  

'  Being  built. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist   

...do   

...  do  

Cotton-gin  

 do  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Agricultural  implements. 

Cotton  factory  

"Woolen  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Wheelwrighting  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Blacksmith  shop  

Cotton  factory  

..  do*  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Wheelwrighting  

Cotton  gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

MilTwrighting  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Foundry  

Agricultural  implements. 

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist   

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist   

Saw  

Agricultural  implements 


umber  of  mills. 

ital  fall  used. 

ital  horse-power 
used,  net. 

'A 

H 

H 

Feet. 



1 

10.0 

15 

1 

7.0 

10 

1 

7.0 

20 

16 

144.0 

153 

3 

29.  0 

36 

2 

20.  0 

1 

7.0 

8 

2 

16.0 

13 

2 

17.0 

11 

l" 

9.0 

6 

5 

50.0 

27 

11 

115.0 

98 

1 

10 

2 

22.0 

19 

1 

8.0 

3 

10 

95.0 

150 

4 

29.0 

122 

3 

1 

20.0 

12 

5 

72.0 

348 

2 

13 

155.5 

158 

2 

21.0 

35 

6 

99.0 

62 

1 

11.0 

18 

4 

78.0 

42 

2 

30.0 

30 

11 

132.0 

139 

6 

88.5 

118 

7 

64.0 

142 

2 

14.0 

35 

1 

7.0 

10 

1 

16.  0 

80 

6 

69.5 

202 

2 

25.5 

46 

1 

11.5 

30 

5 

73.5 

505 

2 

26.5 

2 

27.0 

21 

1 

12.0 

5 

2 

36.0 

40 

1 

18.0 

20 

13 

179.0 

176 

3 

29.0 

60 

i 

12.0 

10 

3 

8 

161.0 

188 

6 

85.0 

134 

1 

20 

1 

14.0 

12 

3 

47.5 

275 

17 

209.0 

294 

4 

52.0 

77 

1 

11.0 

6 

1 

15.0 

28 

1 

16.0 

8 

24 

344.0 

379 

6 

79.5 

93 

1 

12.0 

1 

19.0 

10 

6 

105.0 

100 

3 

54.0 

48 

4 

41.  0 

112 

2 

24.0 

30 

1 

16.0 

15 

735 


76 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
Table  of  utilized  power  on  Cape  Fear  river  and  tributaries — Continued. 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


Comity. 


Kind  of  mill. 


■3s 


Deep  River  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do   

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do..  .... 

Do  .'  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Cape  Fear  . 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

Deep  river . 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 

 do  .... 


North  Carolina 
 do  


.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 
.do  , 
.do 
-do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do 
.do 
-do  . 
-do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
do  . 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 


Chatham  . 

...do   

...do   

Moore  

Randolph . 

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

....do   

Guilford.. 

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

Chatham . . 

. . .  .do  

...do   

...do  

Moore  

...do  

Randolph . 

...do   

...do   

Guilford  .. 
...do   


Foundry  

Machine-shop  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  factory  

. .  do*  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

■Woolen  

Furniture  (?)  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  factory  

Saw  

Carriages  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Agricult'l  implements 

Leather  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

"Woolen  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

"Woolen  


Feet. 
18.0 
18.0 
14.0 
32.0 

107.0 
26.0 

100.0 
12.0 


3.0 
92.5 
19.0 
24.0 
17.0 

7.0 
225.0 
45.0 

9.0 
12.0 
86.0 
42.0 
331.0 

8.5 
106.0 
79.0 
16.0 


120 
475 

250 
12 
50 
4 

124 
70 
25 
20 
15 


10 
6 
135 

74 
361 

128 
56 


"Being  built. 

Table  of  drainage  areas  of  Cape  Fear  river  and  tributaries. 

Square  miles. 

Cape  Fear  river  at  mouth   8, 400 

Northeast  Cape  Fear  river  at  mouth   1,  330 

South  river  at  mouth   1, 430 

Black  river  at  mouth   620 

Cape  Fear  river  at  Fayetteville  _   4,250 

Cape  Fear  river  at  Jones'  falls   4, 170 

Cape  Fear  river  at  Silver  run  -   3,660 

Cape  Fear  river  at  Smiley's  falls   3, 400 

Cape  Fear  river  at  Buckhorn  falls   3,200 

Cape  Fear  river  at  forks  :   3, 025 

Haw  river  at  mouth   1,675 

Haw  river  at  Bynum's  ,   li  250 

Haw  river  at  North  Carolina  railroad   585 

Haw  river  at  Reedy  fork   173 

New  Hope  river  at  mouth   317 

Alamance  creek  at  mouth   237 

Reedy  fork  of  Haw  at  mouth   281 

Deep  river  at  mouth   1>  350 

Deep  river  at  Lockville   1>  340 

Deep  river  at  Gorgas  -   L  300 

Deep  river  at  Gulf   !. 047 

Deep  river  at  Carbonton   L  010 

Deep  river  at  Tyser's   814 

Deep  river  at  Franklinsville   408 

Deep  river  at  Unionville   257 

Rocky  river  at  mouth  .   205 

Rockfish  creek  at  mouth   280 

Little  Rockfish  creek  at  mouth   77 

Little  Rockfish  creek  at  factory   55 

Lower  Little  river  at  mouth   448 

Lower  Little  river  at  Manchester   329 

Upper  Little  river   176 

736 


PEE  DEE  RIVER, 

^  OVE  CHERAWT 

ScaZg 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


77 


VI— THE  GREAT  PEE  DEE  RIVER  (AND  YADKIN)  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  GEEAT  PEE  DEE  EIVER. 

The  Great  Pee  Dee  river  takes  its  rise  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  Caldwell  and  Watauga 
counties,  North  Carolina.  It  flows  first  a  little  north  of  east  through  Caldwell  and  Wilkes  and  between  Surry  and 
Yadkin  counties,  when  it  bends  abruptly  to  the  right,  and  flows  a  little  east  of  south,  forming  the  boundary  between 
the  counties  of  Forsyth,  Davidson,  Montgomery,  and  Richmond  on  its  left,  and  Yadkin,  Davie,  Rowan,  Stanley,  and 
Anson  on  its  right,  passing  into  South  Carolina,  and  continuing  in  the  same  general  direction  between  Marlborough 
and  Marion  counties  on  its  left,  and  Chesterfield,  Darlington,  Williamsburg,  and  Georgetown  on  its  right,  emptying 
into  Winyah  bay  just  at  the  town  of  Georgetown,  after  flowing  for  some  distance  through  the  county  of  the  same 
name.  The  river  is  known  as  the  Great  Pee  Dee  only  in  that  part  of  its  course  below  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie 
river,  in  Montgomery  county,  North  Carolina,  being  called  the  Yadkin  above  that  point.  Following  the  general 
course  of  the  stream,  the  distance  from  its  source  to  its  mouth  is  between  275  and  300  miles,  but  following  all  its 
windings  it  is  much  greater — as  nearly  as  I  can  estimate  by  measurement  on  the  map,  some  400  miles  or  more,  and 
I  think  that  it  will  be  found  in  fact  to  be  greater  still. 

There  are  no  towns  of  great  importance  on  that  part  of  the  river  where  there  are  any  facilities  for  water-power. 
Georgetown,  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  has  a  population  of  2,557,  and  Cheraw,  the  head  of  navigation,  918.  In 
North  Carolina  there  are  no  towns  on  the  river  with  more  than  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  the  principal  one  being 
Wilkesboro',  the  county-seat  of  Wilkes  county. 

The  head  of  navigation  on  the  river  is  Cheraw,  South  Carolina,  about  149  miles  above  the  mouth.  By  the  act  of 
Congress  of  June  14, 1880,  the  sum  of  $7,000  was  appropriated  to  the  work  of  improving  the  navigation  on  this  part  of 
the  river,  and  it  is  hoped  to  secure  9  feet  of  water  as  high  as  Smith's  Mills,  46  miles  from  the  mouth,  and  3J  feet  at  the 
lowest  stage  as  far  as  Cheraw,  the  estimated  cost  of  the  whole  improvement  being  $25,520.  There  is  considerable 
trade  upon  the  river  as  high  as  Smith's  Mills,  and  vessels  drawing  9  feet  reach  that  place  at  a  fair  stage  of  the 
water.  The  principal  shipments  are  cotton,  lumber,  and  naval  stores.  There  is  at  present  a  navigable  depth  of  3 
feet  in  favorable  stages  of  the  water  as  high  as  Cheraw,  and  two  steamers  run  regularly  upon  the  river,  ascending 
as  high  as  this  place  when  practicable.  An  examination  of  the  river  between  Cheraw  and  the  mouth  of  the 
Uwharrie,  a  distance  of  67  miles,  has  also  been  made,  and  it  is  found  practicable  to  render  the  river  navigable  as 
high  as  this  point  by  locks  and  dams,  but  no  appropriation  has  yet  been  made  for  the  work.  ,  Above  the  mouth  of 
the  Uwharrie  the  "Narrows"  form  an  insurmountable  obstacle  to  navigation,  but  above  them,  between  the  North 
Carolina  railroad  bridge  and  Wilkesboro',  the  river  has  been  surveyed,  and  an  appropriation  of  $20,000  made 
March  3, 1879,  the  object  being  to  secure  a  navigable  depth  of  2£  to  3  feet  as  high  as  the  foot  of  Bean's  shoal,  a 
distance  of  64.8  miles.  There  are  some  mill-owners  in  this  distance  with  whom  it  has  thus  far  been  impossible  to 
effect  an  arrangement  "  whereby  the  United  States  might  be  protected  from  claims  for  damages  resulting  from  the 
prosecution  of  the  improvement".*  A  second  appropriation  for  this  work  of  $20,000  was  made  June  14,  1880.  The 
cost  of  the  improvement  is  estimated  at  $82,000,  and  is  to  be  effected  without  locks  and  dams. 

The  Great  Pee  Dee  drains  a  total  area  of  about  17,000  square  miles,  of  which  about  9,700  lie  in  North  Carolina 
and  7,300  in  South  Carolina.  The  principal  tributaries  to  the  river  are  the  Waccamaw  river,  from  the  north,  draining 
about  1,200  square  miles;  the  Black  river,  from  the  west,  draining  about  1,500  square  miles;  the  Little  Pee  Dee  river, 
from  the  north,  with  a  drainage  area  of  some  3,000  square  miles;  Lynch's  creek,  from  the  west,  draining  about  1,350 
square  miles;  Black  creek,  from  the  west,  draining  about  450  square  miles;  Little  river,  from  the  east,  draining  400 
square  miles;  Rocky  river,  from  the  west,  draining  1,400  square  miles;  Uwharrie  river,  from  the  east,  draining 
317  square  miles;  the  South  Yadkin,  from  the  west,  draining  820  square  miles;  and  the  Ararat  river,  from  the  north, 
draining  about  315  square  miles,  besides  numberless  smaller  streams  and  creeks  affording  fine  water-power,  especially 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  drainage-basin. 

The  Great  Pee  Dee  crosses  the  fall-line  a  little  above  Cheraw.  The  fall  is  not  so  pronounced  as  in  the  case  of 
the  Tar  and  the  Roanoke,  consisting  of  a  series  of  rapids  extending  over  a  number  of  miles,  with  no  very  great  fall 
at  any  one  place,  or  within  any  short  distance.  The  drainage-basin  of  the  river  below  the  fall-line  will  be  understood 
sufficiently  well  from  the  general  description  which  has  been  already  given  of  the  eastern  division,  and  of  the  lower 
parts  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  other  rivers,  while  its  general  shape  and  dimensions  may  be  seen  from  the  accompanying 
map.  Neither  does  that  part  of  its  drainage-basin  lying  above  the  fall-line  differ  in  any  essential  particulars  from 
that  of  the  Cape  Fear  or  the  Roanoke,  except  that  it  reaches  f  arther  west  (and  into  the  mountains)  than  that  of  the 
Cape  Fear.  Below  the  great  bend,  where  the  river  turns  so  abruptly  to  the  south,  its  valley  averages  50  miles  wide, 
and  at  many  points  the  river  is  bordered  by  wide  and  fertile  bottoms,  subject  to  overflow  at  times,  and  forming  some 
of  the  best  farming  lands  in  the  state,  while  at  others  the  hills  close  in  upon  the  river,  leaving  no  bottoms  at  all,  and 

HMt%  „„  "Annual  Report  Chief  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  1830,  App.  H. 

1012  w  p— vol  16  47  °  '  -,~ 


78 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


sometimes  confining  the  river  between  steep  and  rocky  banks  on  each  side.  In  one  case  the  river  flows  through  a 
regular  ravine,  confined  in  a  very  narrow  channel  by  bold  and  abrupt  banks  for  a  distance  of  several  miles,  forming 
the  noted  "narrows".  Above  the  great  bend  the  valley  is  narrower  (only  15  to  20  miles  wide),  and  the  divides 
which  separate  the  basin  of  the  Yadkin  from  those  adjacent  are  much  higher,  so  that  the  tributary  streams  in  the 
vicinity  have  a  very  large  fall.  The  level  land  along  the  stream,  however,  is  seldom  in  this  part  of  its  course  over 
a  mile  wide,  interjected  between  the  spurs  of  the  parallel  ranges  of  mountains  which  form  the  divides,  and  forming  in 
places  extremely  picturesque  little  valleys,  surrounded  on  almost  all  sides  by  high  mountains.  Even  in  this  part  of  its 
course  the  river  rises  above  its  banks  in  high  water,  although  the  grounds  subject  to  overflow  are  not  very  extensive- 
Near  Yadkin ville  the  river  passes  through  a  gap  in  the  mountains,  and  above  that  point  its  valley  is  flanked  on  the 
north  by  the  Blue  Eidge  and  on  the  south  by  the  Brushy  mountains,  the  divides  having  elevations  of  from  1,500 
feet  upward,  and  from  these  come  pouring  down  many  mountain -streams  and  torrents.  The  upper  part  of  the  valley 
of  the  Yadkin  is  very  well  wooded,  and  the  mountains  not  being  bare,  the  streams  are  more  constant  in  flow  than 
would  be  expected. 

The  facilities  for  the  construction  of  storage-reservoirs  are  good  on  some  of  the  tributaries,  and  on  the  main 
stream  in  the  very  upper  part  of  its  course.   Below,  they  would,  of  course,  be  impracticable. 

The  products  of  the  Yadkin  valley  are  cotton,  tobacco,  corn,  rice,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  clover  and  grasses,  sorghum 
cane,  vegetables,  and  fruits  in  the  lower  part,  and  principally  grain,  vegetables,  and  fruits  in  the  upper  part. 
Between  the  cool  slopes  of  the  Blue  Bidge  on  the  north  and  the  low  and  hot  plains  of  the  eastern  division  on  the 
south  the  range  of  production — as  in  the  case  of  the  Boanoke — is  very  large,  the  mountains  being  well  adapted 
to  grazing,  the  bottom-lands  of  the  valleys  to  the  raising  of  cereals,  grasses,  vegetables,  fruits,  and  tobacco,  and  the 
low  country  along  the  lower  part  of  the  stream  to  the  production  of  cotton  and  rice. 

The  river  is  subject  to  freshets,  but  I  learned  of  no  peculiarities  concerning  them.  They  are  said  not  to  be  so 
violent,  as  a  rule,  as  on  the  Cape  Fear,  Neuse,  or  Tar,  probably  because  of  the  character  of  the  upper  part  of  the 
basin ;  and,  although  there  are  no  lakes  to  regulate  the  flow,  the  extensive  woods  and  the  mountains,  well  covered 
with  soil,  serve  to  restrain  their  violence.  Neither  are  the  freshets  so  violent  as  on  the  Boanoke,  the  cause  in  this- 
case  being,  probably,  the  fact  that  the  rainfall  in  the  upper  valleys  of  the  Yadkin  is  perhaps,  on  the  whole,  more 
uniformly  distributed  throughout  the  year  than  on  the  Dan  and  Staunton.  At  any  rate,  the  highest  flood  ever  known 
at  Wilkesboro'  occurred  in  September,  1878,  yet  the  rise  was  only  23  feet  above  low  water;  and  at  Langenhour  & 
Reason's  mill  the  extreme  high-water  mark  is  at  22.9  feet.  The  floods  are  short,  generally  subsiding  in  from  3G  to 
48  hours.  It  is  said  that  twenty-five  years  ago  high  floods  very  rarely  occurred,  and  their  frequent  occurrence  now  is 
accounted  for  by  the  clearing  of  the  hills  and  the  removal  of  obstructions  from  the  river.*  The  low  grounds  adjacent 
to  the  river  are  more  frequently  overflowed  than  formerly,  and  more  damage  is  done  to  the  crops. 

The  river  sometimes  brings  down  a  good  deal  of  ice,  so  that  it  cannot  be  ferried;  still  there  is  not  very  much 
difficulty  on  this  account.  The  rise  is  sudden,  the  water  sometimes  rising,  it  is  said,  2  feet  in  20  minutes  at  Kirk's 
ferry  (mouth  of  the  Uwharrie). 

The  annual  rainfall  in  the  valley  varies  from  44  inches  near  the  coast  to  50  inches  between  Cheraw  and  the 
"narrows",  and  44  to  50  above  the  latter  point.  The  table  on  pages  82  and  83  gives  more  detailed  information 
regarding  the  rainfall  above  the  important  powers,  and  of  its  distribution  through  the  year. 

The  following  table  gives  the  elevations  of  the  various  points  on  the  stream,  distances,  and  declivity: 

Table  of  declivity  of  Yadkin  river. 


Placo. 


Mouth  

Cheraw,  South  Carolina  

Crossing  of  Carolina  Central  railroad  

Foot  of  "narrows",  mouth  of  TJwharriet. 

Head  of  "narrows"}  

Crossing  of  Piedmont  Air-Line  railroad§  . 

Foot  of  Bean's  shoal  ||  

Head  of  Bean's  shoal||  

Wilkesboro'  ||  

Patterson  1T  


Distance  from 
mouth. 


Miles. 


149 
169 
216 
220 
256 
321 
325 
378 
410 


Elevation 
above  tide. 


Feet. 


65 
105 
385 
490 
591 
722 
761 
928 
1,  250 


Distance  be- 
tween points. 


Miles. 


149 
20 
47 
4 
36 
65 
4 
53 
32 


Fall  between 


Fall  between 


points. 

points. 

Feet. 

Feet  per  mile. 

65 

-  -  -  0.44 

40 

-   -  -  2.00 

280 

-    -  -  5.S6 

105 

-   -   -  26.25 

101 

■  ■  ■  2.81 

131 

...  2.01 

39 

...  9.75 

167 

...  3.15 

322 

-   -   -  10.06 

*  Annual  Report  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  628. 

tEeport  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  725. 

}  From  barometric  observations. 

§  From  Professor  Kerr's  Geological  Report. 

||  Report  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  626. 

IT  For  elevation  at  Patterson  I  am  indebted  to  Maj.  C  S.  Dwight,  chief  engineer  Chester  and  Lenoir  railroad,  and  to  L.  C  Jones,  Esq.,  chief  engineer  and 
superintendent  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  railroad. 

738 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


79 


I  have  only  one  measurement  of  the  flow  of  the  river,  viz :  that  of  Professor  Kerr,*  who  states  the  flow  (at  low 
water)  to  be  2,586  cubic  feet  per  second  near  the  crossing  of  the  Piedmont  Air-Line  railroad.  But  as  the  drainage 
area  above  this  place  is  only  3,202  square  miles,  it  seems  impossible  that  this  can  be  anything  near  the  minimum, 
but  probably  nearer  the  ordinary  flow.   I  have  therefore  had  recourse  to  estimation  of  the  flow. 

One- of  the  greatest  drawbacks  to  the  utilization  of  water-power  on  the  Yadkin  is  the  inaccessibility  of  the  river. 
It  is  crossed  in  its  water-power  portion  by  only  two  railroads,  and  even  these  cross  it  almost  at  right  angles,  so  that, 
as  the  map  shows,  hardly  any  portion  of  the  river  is  of  easy  access.  Various  railroads  have  been  projected  along 
the  river,  and  at  present  two  are  in  course  of  construction  or  survey  which  will  do  much  to  opeu  up  the  river  and 
develop  its  resources.  The  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  railroad,  which  at  present  extends  only  from  Fayetteville 
to  Egypt,  on  Deep  river,  will  before  long  be  extended,  passing  through  Greensboro',  and  striking  the  Yadkin  river 
some  10  or  12  miles  southeast  of  Pilot  mountain,  near  the  southeast  corner  of  Surry  county,  whence  it  will  follow  the 
valley  of  the  Yadkin  up  to  Wilkesboro'  and  beyond.  The  Chester  and  Lenoir  railroad,  now  being  built,  runs 
from  Chester,  South  Carolina,  through  Lincolnton  and  Lenoir,  striking  the  Yadkin  valley  near  Patterson,  and  will 
be  continued  across  the  Blue  Bidge  to  Elizabethton,  in  eastern  Tennessee.  A  road  has  also  been  spoken  of  up  the 
valley  of  the  Yadkin  in  the  lower  part  of  its  course  in  North  Carolina,  passing  the  "  narrows";  but  I  do  not  know 
that  any  steps  have  yet  been  taken  toward  obtaining  a  charter. 

I  proceed  to  describe  the  river  more  in  detail,  with  its  various  water-powers,  in  order,  commencing  at  its 
mouth. 

Below  Cheraw  there  is,  of  course,  no  power,  and  the  river  has  the  same  general  character  as  the  Cape  Fear 
below  Fayetteville,  so  that  it  need  not  be  described  here. 

Between  Cheraw  and  the  crossing  of  the  Carolina  Central  railroad,  a  distance  of  20  miles,  the  fall  is  at  the  rate 
of  2  feet  per  mile,t  and  the  width  of  the  river  350  to  500  feet.  There  are  11  shoals  in  this  distance,  but  none  of 
much  importance,  and  none  in  themselves  available  for  power,  although,  by  the  construction  of  a  long  canal,  power 
might  be  secured.  Such  a  plan  would  not,  however,  be  advisable.  At  Cheraw  the  river  is  only  350  feet  wide,  and 
the  greatest  rise  in  freshets  is  34  feet.    The  bed  is  generally  rock  and  bowlders. 

Betweeu  the  CaroUna  Central  railroad  crossing  and  the  mouth  of  Little  river,  a  distance  of  10  miles,  there  are 
two  shoals  which  might  be  utilized.  The  first  is  Bluitt's  falls,  perhaps  5  miles  above  the  railroad.  A  dam  with  a 
height  of  9  feet  is  considered  practicable  here,  and  sufficient  to  render  the  stream  navigable,  so  that  9  feet  may  be 
considered  the  available  fall.  This  shoal  is  used  by  a  small  grist-mill  and  cotton-gin  in  Bichmond  county,  using 
6£  feet  fall  and  some  12  horse-power.  The  dam  is  a  primitive  wing-dam.  The  second  shoal  is  at  Grassy  islands,  10 
miles  above  the  railroad.  This  is  really  the  first  fall  of  importance  on  the  river,  and  is  probably  at  the  crossing 
with  the  fall-line.  The  river  is  very  wide  and  dotted  with  islands,  and  the  banks  are  said  to  be  favorable  for  the 
utilization  of  the  power.  In  the  engineer's  report  above  referred  to  it  is  proposed  to  overcome  the  fall  by  four  locks 
and  dams,  with  9  feet  Uft  each,  or  36  feet  iu  all,  but  the  distance  in  which  this  fall  occurs  is  not  stated.  This  shoal  is 
utilized  by  a  small  grist-mill,  using  probably  some  10  or  15  horse-power  and  a  small  fall.  Three  miles  or  thereabouts 
farther  up  is  another  similar  mill.  The  total  fall  in  the  river  between  the  railroad  and  Little  river  is  estimated  at 
100  feet,  and  the  width  varies  from  551  to  627  feet.  The  greatest  rise  on  record  at  Little  river  is  19.77  feet. 
Between  Little  river  and  Bocky  river,  11  miles,  the  fall  is  said  to  be  about  60  feet,  and  there  are  several  shoals, 
though  their  falls  are  unknown.  Between  Bocky  river  and  Shankle's  mill,  11  miles,  the  fall  is  about  65  feet,  with 
several  shoals.  Thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  TJwharrie  river,  9  miles,  the  fall  is  55  feet;  and  in  this  section  are  two 
shoals,  Swift  Island  shoal  and  Greenville's  shoals,  the  former  being  t  mile  and  the  latter  2  miles  in  length.  Swift 
Island  shoal  is  the  first  place  on  the  river  where  power  has  been  used  to  any  considerable  extent,  a  cotton  millr  with 
8  or  9  feet  fall,  being  located  here.  The  dam  is  of  rock,  4  or  5  feet  high,  extending  across  the  river  in  the  form  of  a 
A,  and  a  head-race  about  half  a  mile  long  leads  to  the  factoiy,  which  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  while  on  the 
west  side  was  a  grist-mill,  run  from  the  same  dam,  but  burned  a  short  time  ago.  There  is  also  a  grist-mill  on  the 
east  side  near  the  factory.  Mills  have  been  in  operation  here  for  50  or  75  years.  At  present  about  40  horse-power 
is  used,  and  the  mills  are  stopped  by  high  water  about  12  days  in  the  year.  The  entire  property  is  for  sale.  This 
place  is  about  8  miles  east  of  Albemarle,  the  county-seat  of  Stanley  county,  and  is  about  27  miles  from  the  nearest 
railroad  station,  Concord,  ou  the  Piedmont  Air-Line.  Before  proceeding  farther,  it  is  to  be  remarked  that,  as  the 
table  of  utilized  power  will  show,  there  are  various  other  small  grist-mills  on  the  river  below  Swift  island  with 
small  falls  and  power. 

At  Gunsmith's  shoal,  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  is  Dr.  Kron's  grist- 
miil,  using  4  or  5  feet  fall,  with  a  wing-dam.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie  the  river  is  1,155  feet  wide,  and  the 
greatest  rise  is  12  feet. 

Four  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie  is,  perhaps,  the  most  remarkable  power  in  the  state,  the 
"  Narrows  of  the  Yadkin."   At  the  upper  end,  before  entering  the  "  narrows",  the  river  is  nearly  or  quite  1,000  feet 

*  Geological  Report,  page  40. 

t  Annual  report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  725.  From  this  report,  on  an  examination  of  the  river  between  Cheraw  and  the 
mouth  of  the  TJwharrie,  most  of  the  following  notes  on  that  portion  of  the  river  have  been  taken. 

730 


80 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


wide,  from  which  it  suddenly  contracts,  entering  a  narrow  ravine  between  the  hills,  which  rise  abruptly  on  either  side 
with  rocky  and  almost  perpendicular  banks,  and  through  which  it  pours  with  great  violence,  preserving  for  a 
distance  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  an  average  width  of  not  over  75  feet,  while  in  some  places  the  width  is  only  30  feet. 
No  description  can  do  justice  to  this  place,  which  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful  spots  that  can  be  found  in  the  south. 
In  the  "  narrows"  proper — the  quarter  of  a  mile  referred  to  above — the  river  has  cut  out  its  channel  in  the  solid  rock, 
the  banks  being  almost  perpendicular  for  a  height  of  5  to  15  feet  above  low  water,  when  they  retreat  nearly 
horizontally,  but  very  broken  and  rough,  and  with  projecting  points  of  rock,  alternating  with  holes  and  crevasses, 
so  that  it  is  difficult  and  tiresome  to  make  one's  way  along,  for  a  distance  of  about  100  to  150  yards  from  the 
immediate  channel,  where  the  hills  rise  very  steeply.  Thus  the  average  width  of  the  ravine  is  in  the  neighborhood 
of  250  yards,  or  rather  less,  while  the  single  channel  of  the  river,  through  which  its  whole  volume  pours  in  low 
water,  is  75  feet,  and  in  places  30,  in  which  the  water  is  said  to  be  very  deep.  The  stream  overflows  its  banks  in 
freshets  and  fills  the  whole  ravine,  although  it  is  very  seldom  that  it  covers  all  the  projecting  rocks.  Below  the 
"  narrows"  proper  the  stream  widens  to  a  width  of  150  or  200  feet,  and  flows  for  the  succeeding  2£  miles  through  a 
narrow  gorge,  the  banks  on  either  side  being  very  steep  and  rocky  all  the  way,  except  at  one  or  two  places,  where 
small  lateral  valleys  diverge,  and  where  there  is  sometimes  place  to  put  a  single  mill.  The  real  footof  the  "narrows" 
is  at  the  extremity  of  this  2£  miles,  at  which  a  small  creek  enters  the  river,  and  where  the  fall,  which  is  very  large 
all  the  way  from  the  head  of  the  "narrows  ",  comes  to  an  end.  This  place — the  foot  of  the  "narrows  " — is  called  Little 
falls.  Just  below  it  comes  a  long  and  narrow  stretch  called  the  "  Lake",  the  river  being  still  confined  between 
rocky  and  almost  vertical  banks,  but  the  fall  being  very  small,  and  the  width  of  the  stream  only  about  100  to  150 
feet,  the  depth  is  very  great.  The  banks  slope  down  at  a  large  angle  straight  into  the  river,  and  are  of  solid 
rock.  At  the  lower  end  of  the  lake,  which  is  between  a  quarter  and  a  half  mile  long,  the  river  widens,  at  a 
place  called  the  Terrapin  Hole,  and  thence  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie,  a  distance  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
or  thereabouts,  it  is  interspersed  with  rocks  and  islands,  with  banks  10  to  20  feet  high  on  each  side,  and  behind 
them  flat  lands  for  some  hundred  yards.  Above  the  head  of  the  "narrows"  the  banks  on  either  side  are  moderately 
high,  and  behind  them  are  fertile  bottom-lauds  and  hills.  The  fall  at  the  "narrows"  has  never  been  accurately 
measured,  and  it  was,  of  course,  not  possible  for  me  to  make  any  such  measurements.  In  fact,  it  is  said  to  be  a 
difficult  and  tedious  undertaking  to  attempt  to  follow  the  river  from  the  head  of  the  "narrows"  to  the  lake.  But 
through  Professor  Kerr,  to  whom  I  have  already  acknowledged  my  great  indebtedness  on  various  occasions,  I  was 
enabled  to  take  some  barometric  readings  at  various  points.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  barometer  was  in  a  state 
of  rapid  change  when  I  was  at  the  "narrows",  and  although  I  took  measurements  of  the  fall  on  two  different  days 
they  agree  poorly  with  each  other.  According  to  the  best  estimate  I  can  make,  the  total  fall  between  the  head  of 
the  "narrows"  and  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie,  a  distance  of  4  miles,  is  about  105  feet,  and  I  am  inclined  to  consider 
this  result  too  small,  rather  than  too  great.  This  fall  is  distributed  about  as  follows :  At  the  entrance  of  the 
"narrows  "  there  is  a  fall  of  5  or  6  feet  in  about  150,  according  to  measurements  with  a  pocket-level ;  in  the  succeeding 
quarter  of  a  mile — the  "narrows "  proper — the  fall  is  not  less  than  30  feet,  according  to  the  barometer  and  the  pocket- 
level  ;  for  the  next  2  miles  the  rapids  continue  with  a  pretty  uniform  fall  of  about  50  feet  in  all ;  then  comes  Little 
falls,  where  the  fall  is  5  or  6  feet  in  500  and  14  or  15  in  1,000,  from  the  top  of  a  mill-dam  above  the  falls ;  at  the 
falls  the  river  is  almost  as  narrow  as  at  the  "narrows",  or  about  GO  feet  in  one  place;  below  them  comes  the  lake, 
etc.,  the  fall  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie  being,  perhaps,  5  or  10  feet. 

According  to  what  has  been  said,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  magnificent  power  is,  unfortunately,  not  available,  or 
only  to  a  very  small  extent.  A  dam  could  be  built  on  the  river  above  the  "narrows",  and  the  water  carried  along  by 
a  flume,  the  mills  being  located  on  the  rocks ;  but  while  such  a  use  of  the  power  would  be  perfectly  practicable, 
no  one  would  think  of  locating  a  large  establishment  right  in  a  gorge  of  the  mountains,  in  such  an  inaccessible 
place  and  on  the  rocky  banks  of  a  river,  where  it  is  liable  to  overflow  in  times  of  high  water.  A  canal  could  not 
be  cut  along  the  "narrows"  except  at  very  large  cost;  neither  could  it  be  carried  around  the  hills,  except  with  great 
difficulty.  Below  the  "narrows"  proper  there  is  no  horizontal  bank,  as  there  is  at  the  former  place;  but  the  channel 
is  wider  and  the  banks  slope  down  to  the  water's  edge,  so  that  to  canal,  or  even  to  flume,  around  this  part  of  the 
fall  would  be  difficult.  There  are  a  few  places,  where  lateral  ravines  make  down  to  the  river,  at  which  the  banks 
are  not  so  abrupt,  and  where  there  is  room  for  a  single  mill ;  and,  in  fact,  one  small  grist-mill  is  situated  in  this 
partof  the  "narrows",  near  Little  falls,being  run  from  a  small  wing-dam,  and  using  a  fall  of  6  or  7  feet;  but  there  are 
no  facilities  for  the  location  of  a  manufacturing  town,  or  even  of  a  large  mill.  There  are  no  low  grounds  between 
the  head  of  the  "narrows"  and  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie.  The  rock  in  the  "narrows"  is  a  solid  metamorphic 
conglomerate,  very  hard,  almost  impossible  to  fracture  by  ordinary  blows,  and  certainly  difficult  to  blast.  Some 
power  might  be  obtained  by  damming  the  river  at  the  Terrapin  Hole  and  throwing  the  water  up  over  Little 
falls,  or  at  Little  falls  itself  a  mill  could  be  established ;  but  a  very  small  proportion  of  the  total  power  at  this 
place  is  practically  available.  When  it  is  added  that  the  site  is  30  miles  from  Salisbury,  the  nearest  railroad  point, 
it  will  easily  be  concluded  that  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  any  endeavor  is  made  to  utilize  the  power  to  any  large 
extent. 

740 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


81 


I  have  estimated  the  theoretically  available  power,  with  the  result,  in  the  following  table,  taking  the  fall  at  105 
feet.  Of  this  total  power  probably  not  over  500  horse-power  would  be  practically  available  without  great  cost,  and 
even  that,  for  the  present  at  least,  not  economical,  and  only  profitable  for  grist-mills: 

Table  of  power  on  the  "narrows"  of  the  Yadkin. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Square  miles. 


3,  940 


Fall. 


Feet. 


*105± 


Flow  per 
second. 


Cubic  feet. 

866 
1,100 
3,  350 
1,  250 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


1  foot  fall. 
98.4 
125.0 
380.7 
142.0 


105  feet  fall. 

10,  330 
13, 125 
39,  973 
14,  910 


*  See  description. 


Between  the  "narrows"  and  the  railroad  bridge  there  are  several  shoals,  some  of  which  are  said  to  afford  good 
power  and  considerable  fall.  They  are  used  by  small  grist-  and  saw  mills,  with  wing-dams  (Nash  &  Kirk's  mill, 
west  side ;  Eedwine  &  Pemberton's  mill,  west  side ;  Snotherly  &  Cooper's  grist-,  saw-,  and  wood-turning  mill, 
east  side),  and  in  one  case,  at  Milled geville,  by  a  cotton  factory,  together  with  a  grist-mill,  using,  in  all,  some  40 
horse-power.  The  dam  at  this  place  is  of  rock,  about  600  feet  long,  and  only  a  wing.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  are  a  saw-mill,  grist-mill,  cotton-gin,  and  wool-carding  machine,  also  run  from  a  small  wing-dam  across  to  an 
island.   The  stoppage  by  backwater  is  from  six  to  ten  days  in  the  year. 

Above  Milledgeville  there  are  still  several  shoals  and  mills,  viz:  Mott's  falls,  not  used;  Eeed's  and  Bald 
Mountain  mills,  on  opposite  sides  ;  a  mill  on  each  side  at  Bringle's  ferry ;  St.  John's  mill,  1  mile  below  the  bridge.  In 
regard  to  all  these  1  have  no  particulars.  They  are  tabulated  in  the  table  of  utilized  power,  and  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  falls  are  small  as  a  rule,  though  there  is  one  fall  of  28  feet  put  down  in  Montgomery  county.  But  as  I  have  no 
other  mention  of  such  a  fall,  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  must  be  on  some  tributary. 

As  showing  the  topography  of  this  region,  and  how  the  Yadkin  descends  from  an  elevated  plateau,  while  one 
of  its  tributaries,  the  Uwharrie,  flows  along  the  base  of  the  same,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  according  to  a  railroad 
survey  (the  line  of  which  crossed  both  rivers)  the  elevation  of  the  Yadkin  at  Stokes'  ferry,  about  10  or  11  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  the  Uwharrie,  was  190  feet  greater  than  that  of  the  latter  stream  at  about  the  same  distance 
from  its  mouth,  so  that  the  fall  of  the  Yadkin  must  be  at  least  200  feet  within  the  distance  mentioned. 

Above  the  railroad  bridge  the  river  has  been  surveyed  in  detail  by  Mr.  S.  T.  Abert,  United  States  civil 
engineer,  to  whose  report,  published  in  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  pp.  026-G48,  I  must  refer 
for  more  detailed  information  regarding  the  stream,  which  I  did  not  visit  in  this  section.  Mr.  Abert's  survey  extended 
as  far  up  as  Wilkesboro',  ami  the  shoals  in  that  distance  are  tabulated  farther  on.  The  following  notes  regarding 
them  are  taken  principally  from  his  report: 

Below  Beau's  shoal  there  are  several  small  grist-mills  on  the  stream,  using  very  primitive  wheels  and  little 
power;  and  several  other  mills,  not  mentioned  in  the  table  of  power,  have  been  operated  at  different  times.  The 
first  mill  of  much  importance  is  Langeuhour  &  Reason's,  and  the  dam  is  the  first  one  which  extends  entirety  across 
the  river,  except  Swicegood's,  about  20  miles  below — a  low  wing-dam  of  stone.  It  is  built  of  wo  oden  frames  planked 
over,  and  the  foundation  is  rock. 

At  Shallow  Ford  shoal  there  is  a  grist-mill  on  the  right  bank,  with  a  wing-dam. 

The  principal  shoal  on  this  part  of  the  river  is  Bean's  shoal,  the.  fall  in  4  miles  being  over  39  feet.  The  most 
rapid  descent  is  at  the  head,  being  nearly  17  feet  in  a  mile.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  very  ragged,  of  stratified 
rock,  which  rises  in  sharp  points  and  ridges  at  right  angles  to  the  course  of  the  river,  forming  in  some  places 
natural  dams,  extending  nearly  across,  and  the  channel  is  much  obstructed  and  cut  up  with  rocks  and  islands. 
Between  1820  and  1835  "the  Yadkin  Navigation  Company  did  considerable  work  at  these  shoals,  with  a  view  to 
rendering  the  river  navigable.  A  dam  was  built  at  the  head  of  the  shoals,  and  a  canal  commenced  along  the 
northern  side  of  the  river.  The  only  trace  of  the  dam  now  to  be  seen  is  the  abutment  at  the  entrance  to  the  canal. 
The  canal  was  completed  for  a  little  more  than  a  mile  from  the  head  of  the  shoals,  and  was  15  to  45  feet  wide  at  the 
bottom.  Where  the  cliff  forms  one  wall  the  minimum  width  is  15  feet.  At  2,000  feet  from  the  head  of  the  canal  are 
the  ruins  of  a  guard-lock  12  feet  wide.  The  canal  walls  are  of  earth,  except  along  the  foot  of  the  cliffs.  Here  a 
very  good  retaiuiug-wall  was  built  of  stone  quarried  on  the  spot.  The  upper  wall,  700  feet  in  length,  was  built  of 
headers  aud  stretchers,  neatly  pinned  with  small  stone,  and  is  in  good  condition.  The  outer  face  has  a  batter  of  2f 
inches  to  the  foot  rise.  The  inner  face  was  left  rough,  and  covered  with  gravel  and  earth.  No  cement  was  used  in  its 
construction.  The  dimensions  are  :  height,  6  to  20  feet ;  top  width,  2.5  feet ;  bottom  width,  about  7  feet.  The  lower 

741 


82 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


-wall,  about  400  feet  in  length,  is  of  the  same  general  character,  but  in  some  places  has  been  torn  down  to  obtain 
stone  for  the  construction  of  fish-dams.  The  canal  has  been  filled  in  by  the  floods,  and  where  it  runs  through  the 
woods  is  overgrown  with  trees  and  bushes.    No  water  flows  through  it ". 

The  other  shoals  mentioned  call  for  no  special  remark.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  everywhere  rock,  overlaid 
sometimes  with  gravel,  and  is  most  favorable  to  the  construction  of  dams.  Beside  the  shoals  mentioned  in  the  table 
there  are  many  others  with  smaller  falls,  but  which  might  equally  well  be  used  for  power.  As  regards  the  amount 
of  power  available,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  is  very  large  indeed,  and  that  almost  every  one  of  these  shoals  might 
be  utilized  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Bean's  shoals  would  seem  to  offer  the  most  excellent  site  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  and  it  having  been  considered  practicable  to  build  a  canal  around  the  whole  shoal  it  would  seem  to  follow 
that  the  power  might  be  utilized  without  much  difficulty.  While  the  estimates  of  power  given  in  the  table  are  only 
to  be  regarded  as  rough  approximations,  it  is  believed  that  they  will  serve  to  give  some  idea  of  the  amount  of 
power  which  might  be  obtained.  But  until  larger  establishments  seek  a  location  in  this  vicinity,  and  until  the 
means  of  transportation  are  improved,  the  water-power  of  the  smaller  tributary  streams  will  be  preferred  to  that 
of  the  main  river,  on  account  of  the  smaller  cost,  the  (in  general)  safer  location,  and  the  diminished  liability  to 
stoppage  by  high  water.  But  when  large  amounts  of  power  are  wanted,  and  money  is  at  hand  to  develop  it,  the 
Yadkin  will,  no  doubt,  be  found  to  afford  a  large  supply. 

Above  Wilkesboro'  the  fall  of  the  river  continually  increases,  and  there  are  some  sites  for  power,  but  regarding 
them  I  could  procure  no  detailed  information.  The  only  power  utilized  is  at  Patterson,  Caldwell  county,  where 
Gwyn,  Harper  &  Co.  have  a  cotton-mill,  using,  as  they  estimate  it,  50  horse-power  and  a  fall  of  25  feet.  The  dam 
is  of  rock,  130  feet  long  and  20  feet  high,  built  in  1850  at  a  cost  of  $500,  and  backing  the  water  a  quarter  of  a 
mile,  without  throwing  the  river  out  of  its  banks ;  and  from  it  a  race  630  feet  long  leads  to  the  mill.  There  is  no 
trouble  with  scarcity  of  water,  and  there  is  waste  at  night  even  at  low  water,  the  mill  running  12  hours;  so  that  the 
capacity  of  the  stream  here  is  at  all  times  at  least  2  horse-power  to  the  foot  fall,  if  the  above  data  have  been 
correctly  reported.  But  as  the  drainage  area  above  this  place  is  very  small,  according  to  the  map  only  30  or  40 
square  miles,  1  should  estimate  the  capacity  of  the  stream  at  only  about  1  horse-power,  net,  per  foot  fall.  If  the 
data  returned  are  correct,  it  must  be  that  there  are  large  springs  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basin,  rendering  the  flow 
very  large. 

Above  this  the  stream  is  rapid — a  mountain  stream,  with  very  little,  if  any,  power  used. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  there  are  only  three  dams  extending  entirely  across  the  river,  all  above  the  "  narrows". 

The  estimates  of  power  given  in  the  following  table  are  liable  to  large  error,  and  it  is  impossible  to  check  them. 
All  of  the  powers  used  seem  large  in  comparison  with  the  drainage  areas  above  them,  as  in  the  case  of  the  one  at 
Patterson,  and  it  seems  probable  that  the  streams  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basin  are  fed  by  large  springs,  which  render 
the  flow  comparatively  constant.  I  have  therefore  made  my  estimates  larger  than  I  should  do  in  ordinary  cases,  and 
they  may  be  found  too  large.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  however,  that  powers  are  often  overstated,  and  that  turbine- 
wheels  are  rated  very  high  as  regards  efficiency.  A  power  of  50  horse-power  at  Patterson,  with  a  fall  of  25  feet,  would 
correspond  to  a  flow  at  all  times  of  0.6  cubic  feet  per  second  per  square  mile.  In  the  Hand-book  of  North  Carolina, 
published  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  it  is  stated  that  the  factory  there  has  18  looms  and  960  spindles. 

I 

Summary  of  power  of  the  Yadkin  river. 


Locality. 


Bluitt's  falls  

Grassy  Island  shoal  

Swift  Island  shoal  

Narrows  

Douthet's  mill  

Langenhour  &  Reason's  dam  . 
Shallow  Ford  shoal  


Shoal  ahove  Shore's  island  . 

Bean's  shoal  (head)  

Limo  Bock  shoal  

Shoal  below  Bockford  

Seven  Island  shoal  


Miles. 
174.0 
180.0 
212.0 
220.0 
291.5 
298.5 
305.0 

315.2 
324.7 
329.3 
335.8 
337.0 


Sq.  m. 
6,  650 
6,624 
4,323 
3,  938 
1,  865 
1,  827 
1,  S12 

1,633 
1,  521 
1, 165 
1,  097 
1,  066 
Miles. 


Bainfall. 


In. 
12 
12 
12 
12 
13 
13 
13 

13 
13 
13 
13 
13 


Total  fall. 


Feel. 
9.  00 
36.  00 
9.  00 

105.  00 
3. 86 
4.57 
7. 89 

7. 73 
39. 17 
10.62 
8.  38 
4.02 


Feet. 


*1 
*4 
1,600 


5,  560 

9,662 
*4 
*2.59 
4,  500 
2,  630 


Horse-power  available,  gross.t 


1,  500 
5,970 
970 
10,  330 
190 
220 
375 

330 
1,  560 
325 
240 
112 


.5  % 


1,  900 
7,600 
1,240 

13, 125 
245 
280 
485 

430 

2,  030 
425 
320 
145 


as 


5,  780 
23,  000 
3, 760 
39,  973 
720 
840 
1, 440 

1, 260 
5,  960 
1,240 
920 
425 


2,170 
8,  680 
1,400 
14,  910 
2S0 
325 
550 

490 
2,  320 
490 
360 
165 


Utilized. 


15- 
25- 
40 
00- 
25- 
20- 
6 


25- 


Fcet. 
6.  50 


8-9 
6-7 
3.  86 
5.00 
11(?) 


a 

3 

a 


1.2- 
0.5- 
6.0± 
0.6- 
14.0- 
15.0- 
4.0- 


3.0- 


Bemarks. 


Not  available. 
Bock  bottom. 
Bo. 

Bock  and  gravel 
bottom. 

Do. 
Bock  bottom. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 


tSee  pages  18  to  21. 


742 


Locality. 


Long  shoal  

Woodruff's  Fish-trap  shoal 

Mitchell's  Island  shoal  

Swan  Creek  shoal  

Keeve's  Island  shoal  


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Summary  of  power  of  the  Yadkin  river — Continued. 


83 


Blair's  Island  shoal  

Total  between — 

•Cheraw  

and  mouth  of  TJwharrie  

Total  between — 

Mouth  of  TJwharrie  

and  railroad  bridge  

Total  between — 

Railroad  bridge  

and  foot  of  Bean's  shoal  

Total  between — 

Foot  of  Bean's  shoal  

and  Wilkesboro'  

Total  between — 

"Wilkesboro'  

and  Patterson  

Total  on  river  between — 

Cheraw,  South  Carolina  

and  Patterson.  North  Carolina. 


rath. 

Rainfall. 

Total  fall. 

Horse-power  available,  gross,  t 

Distance  from  mc 

Drainage  area. 

j  Spring. 

Summer. 

Autumn. 

1  "Winter. 

Year. 

Height. 

Length. 

i 

i 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

Low  season,  dry 
years. 

Miles. 

Sq.  m. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Feet. 

Feet. 

342.0 

949 

13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

11. 18 

*1.61 

265 

335 

1,140 

385 

345.0 

925 

13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

4.  55 

1,  800 

105 

134 

450 

155 

346.6 

925 

13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

4.  00 

2,740 

90 

115 

400 

135 

356.7 

739 

13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

5.40 

3, 160 

100 

125 

450 

145 

366.5 

540 

13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

3. 86 

2, 700 

50 

65 

240 

'  75 

376.5 

420 

13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

3.44 

1,700 

36 

46 

170 

53 

149.  0 
216.0 

(,  I/O 

3,  938 

Miles. 

I  12 

12 

11 

13 

48 

320.  00 

67 

44,  500 

56,  500 

170,  000 

64,  600 

216.0 
256.0 

3,938 
3,202 

13 

11 

14 

50 

206.  00 

40 

18,  000 

23,  000 

69,  500 

26,  300 

256.0 
321.0 

3,  202 
1, 500 

}l3 

14 

10 

14 

51 

131.  00 

65 

6,675 

8,  700 

25,  500 

10,  000 

321.0 
378.0 

1,500 
372 

I  13 

14 

10 

14 

51 

206.  00 

57 

4,600 

5,  900 

20,  000 

6,750 

378.0 
410.0 

372 
30 

14 

10 

14 

51 

322.  00 

32 

1,000 

1,  925 

8,  000 

2, 200 

149.0 

7,175 

s- 

1, 185.  00 

261 

75,  375 

96,  025 

293,  000 

109,  850 

410.0 

30 

Utilized. 


300  ± 


200- 


200- 


40- 


736 


Feet. 


1.0- 


1.5- 


5.0- 


1.5- 


1.4- 


Bemarks. 


Bock  bottom. 
Do. 

Gravel  bottom. 
Bock  bottom. 
Bock  and  gravol 

bottom. 
Gravel  bottom. 


'  Miles.  t  See  pages  18  to  21. 

TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  YADKIN. 


The  lower  tributaries  of  the  Great  Pee  Dee,  viz :  the  Waccamaw,  the  Black,  and  the  Little  Pee  Dee  rivers, 
scarcely  call  for  a  detailed  description.  Lying  entirely  below  the  fall-line,  their  general  character  will  be  sufficiently 
clear  from  what  has  been  already  said  regarding  similar  streams,  and  regarding  the  eastern  division,  as  a  whole,  in 
the  introduction.  The  Waccamaw  rises  in  Waccamaw  lake,  Columbus  county,  ISTorth  Carolina,  not  over  25  miles  from 
the  Atlantic,  and  flows  for  a  distance  of  244  (?)  miles  nearly  parallel  to  the  coast,  joining  the  Great  Pee  Dee  at  its 
mouth.  It  is  navigable  for  light-draught  steamers  for  1G3  miles,  and  for  boats  drawing  3  feet  of  water  up  to 
the  lake.  Its  water-power,  and  that  of  its  tributaries,  does  not  amount  to  much.  The  Black  river,  which  has  its 
sources  in  Kershaw  and  Sumter  counties,  South  Carolina,  is  similar  in  character,  and  has  no  water-power,  except  a 
little  in  the  upper  part,  among  the  sand-hills.  The  Little  Pee  Dee,  which  unites  with  the  Great  Pee  Dee  23£  miles 
above  its  mouth,  is  more  important.  Kisiug  in  Eichmond  county,  North  Carolina,  it  flows  in  a  general  southerly 
course,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  map,  its  length  along  its  general  course  being  about  75  miles,  but  much  greater  by 
the  river,  which  is  quite  crooked,  like  all  the  streams  in  the  low  region  near  the  coast.  The  total  drainage  area  of 
the  river  is  about  3,000  square  miles,  and  it  receives  one  tributary  larger  than  itself,  the  Lumber  river,  from  the  east 
and  north,  which  drains  nearly  1,800  square  miles.  The  sources  of  the  Little  Pee  Dee  are  just  about  on,  or  a  little 
below,  the  fall-line,  in  the  sand-hills;  and  they  therefore  afford  some  power,  their  general  character  being  the  same 
-as  that  of  the  sand-hill  tributaries  of  the  Cape  Fear,  which  has  been  described  on  page  61.  Their  declivities  being 
uniform,  no  sites  could  be  specified.  Gum  Swamp  creek  will  serve  as  a  sample  of  these  streams.  There  is  a  cotton 
factory,  saw-  and  grist-mill  at  Laurel  Hill,  on  this  stream,  the  fall  being  8J  feet,  and  the  power  for  the  factory  44 
horse-power,  and  in  all,  perhaps,  60  or  65  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  all  the  time  by  drawing  down  the 
water  in  the  pond,  which  covers  200  acres,  during  working  hours.  The  dam  is  of  dirt  and  timber,  7  feet  high, 
•and  the  head-race  1J  miles  long.  As  already  mentioned,  the  constant  flow  of  these  streams,  and  the  large  ponds 
possible,  render  them  valuable  for  power. 

The  Lumber  river  has  its  sources  higher  up  than  those  of  the  Little  Pee  Dee,  in  Montgomery  and  Moore 
counties,  North  Carolina,  but  reaching  little,  if  at  all,  above  the  fall-line.  Its  character  resembles  that  of  the  Little 
Pee  Dee,  and  on  its  upper  part  it  probably  belongs  to  the  class  of  sand-hill  streams.  There  are  no  mills,  except 
small  saw-  and  grist-mills,  on  the  main  stream,  or  on  any  of  its  tributaries. 


84 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Lynch's  river  rises  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  Union  county,  North  Carolina,  and  flows  in  a  south- 
easterly direction  through  South  Carolina,  between  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  Kershaw,  Sumter,  and  Clarendon,  on 
its  right,  and  Chesterfield  and  Darlington,  on  its  left;  thence  through  Williamsburg,  to  join  the  Great  Pee  Dee, 
about  16  miles  in  a  straight  line,  above  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Pee  Dee.  It  has  its  sources  a  considerable  distance 
above  the  fall-line.  The  stream  is  about  120  miles  long,  following  its  general  course,  but  probably  twice  as  long  by  the 
river,  and  its  drainage  area  comprises  some  1,350  square  miles.  In  its  lower  parts  the  banks  are  low  and  swampy,  and 
it  is  only  in  that  part  which  Ues  above  Sumter  county  that  the  stream  is  worth  anything  for  power.  But  although 
its  sources  lie  above  the  fall-line,  I  was  unable  to  learn  of  any  important  shoals  on  the  stream,  and  the  utilized  power 
is  quite  insignificant,  consisting  only  of  that  used  for  a  few  grist-  and  saw-mills.  Between  Kershaw  and  Chesterfield 
counties  the  stream  crosses  the  sand-hill  belt,  and  many  of  its  tributaries  in  those  counties  afford  good  small  powers, 
the  principal  affluent  being  Little  Lynch's  creek,  from  the  west,  taking  its  rise  in  Lancaster  and  joining  the  main 
stream  in  Kershaw  county,  after  draining  an  area  of  about  170  square  miles,  and  being  utilized  for  a  few  small  grist- 
mills. The  beds  of  these  streams  are  of  rock  down  to  the  fall-line,  or  about  the  lower  end  of  Lancaster  county,  below 
which  they  are  sand  and  alluvium.  The  mills  on  these  streams  have  sometimes  as  many  as  four  run  of  stones,  but 
in  summer  they  are  often  obliged  to  run  a  smaller  number.  The  dams  are  generally  wooden  triangular  frames,  set 
lengthwise  up  and  down  stream,  and  planked  over.  Lynch's  river  is  navigable  for  a  considerable  distance  from 
its  junction  with  the  Pee  Dee.  The  freshets  on  these  streams  are  not  very  heavy,  and  there  is  no  trouble  in  keeping 
dams  in  order. 

The  Great  Pee  Dee  receives  in  South  Carolina  several  other  tributaries  resembling  Lynch's  river,  such  as  Black 
creek,  which  rises  in  Chesterfield  county  and  joins  the  river  in  Darlington ;  Crooked  creek,  from  Marlborough  county; 
and  a  creek  from  Chesterfield  county,  which  empties  a  few  miles  below  Cheraw.  These  streams  need  not  be 
described,  because  they  resemble,  in  every  particular,  the  streams  below  the  fall-line,  which  have  already  been  referred 
to.  In  the  upper  parts  of  their  courses  they  flow  on  the  sand-hill  belt,  and  afford,  as  a  rule,  good  constant  powers, 
but  with  no  natural  falls,  and  with  a  uniform  declivity,  all  the  power  used  being  obtained  by  damming. 

The  first  tributary  worth  mentioning  in  North  Carolina  is  Hitchcock's  creek,  although  there  are'  several  streams 
below  it  which  are  also  favorable  for  power.  Hitchcock's  creek  flows  entirely  in  Bichmond  county,  and  has  a 
length,  in  a  straight  line,  of  only  about  16  or  20  miles,  draining  an  area  of  some  102  square  miles.  It  receives  one 
tributary  from  the  south — Falling  creek — worth  mentioning  on  account  of  its  utilized  power,  although  it  is  a  small 
stream,  with  a  drainage  area  of  only  about  12  square  miles.  At  the  junction  of  these  two  streams  is  the  town  of 
Bockingham,  the  county-seat  of  Bichmond  county,  with  a  population  of  about  1,600.  These  streams  are  true  sand- 
hill streams,  so  that  for  their  general  character  we  may  refer  to  page  61.  Falling  creek,  however,  differs  from  the 
ordinary  sand-hill  streams  by  having  a  large  natural  fall  near  its  mouth,  which  may  be  its  crossing  with  the  same 
ledge  of  rocks  which  forms  the  fall-line.  Both  streams  are  used  to  a  considerable  extent  to  drive  saw-  and  grist- 
mills, as  will  be  seen  from  the  table  of  utilized  power.  They  are  principally  remarkable,  however,  as  running  two 
of  the  largest  cotton  factories  in  the  state,  and  they  thus  offer  a  good  example  of  the  large  amount  of  power  which 
may  be  obtained  from  these  unpretending  little  sand-hill  streams.  The  factory  of  the  Pee  Dee  Manufacturing 
Company  is  located  on  Hitchcock's  creek  at  Bockingham,  and  uses  168  horse-power,  with  a  fall  of  17  feet.  The 
dam  was  built  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  and  is  of  wood  for  80  feet  of  its  length  and  of  earth  for  the  remaining  100 
feet.  It  is  17  feet  high,  and  ponds  the  water  over  100  acres  to  an  average  depth  of  11  feet,  affording  reservoir-room 
sufficient  to  allow  of  the  water  being  drawn  down  during  working  hours  without  diminishing  the  head  much,  and 
thus  allowing  of  the  concentration  into  working  hours  of  the  whole  daily  capacity  of  the  stream.  Full  capacity 
can  be  secured  all  the  time,  except  for  a  few  weeks  in  summer,  when  the  available  power  is  only  about  112  horse- 
power.   The  wheel  used  is  a  Hercules  turbine  (Holyoke  Manufacturing  Company). 

On  Falling  creek  is  located  the  factory  of  the  Great  Falls  Manufacturing  Company,  using  112  horse-power  and 
a  fall  of  43  feet.  The  dam  was  first  built  in  1869,  rebuilt  in  1879,  costing  about  $2,000,  and  is  of  wood,  100  feet 
long  and  16  feet  high,  ponding  the  water  over  10  or  12  acres  to  a  depth  of  10  feet.  A  wooden  race,  75  feet  long, 
leads  the  water  to  the  wheels.  As  in  the  case  of  the  other  factory,  the  water  is  stored  during  the  night.  Full 
capacity  can  be  secured  for  ten  months,  and  two-thirds  capacity  during  the  remaining  two  months.  During  dry 
summers  between  two  and  three  weeks  are  lost  on  account  of  want  of  water,  and  sometimes  as  much  as  four  or  five 
weeks. 

.  It  is  interesting  to  calculate  the  amount  of  water  which  may  be  depended  upon  from  these  sand-hill  streams, 
as  was  done  in  the  case  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Cape  Fear,  but  the  inaccuracy  of  the  available  maps  renders  the 
result  liable  to  error  to  an  uncertain  extent.  The  drainage  area  of  Hitchcock's  creek  above  the  factory  is,  according 
to  the  map,  about  86  square  miles.  If  we  assume  that  in  the  low  season  of  dry  years  100  horse-power  (gross)  may  be 
obtained  with  a  fall  of  17  feet  during  12  hours,  or  50  with  the  natural  flow  of  the  stream,  then  the  flow  will  be  about 
0.3  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile.  If  we  assume  that  224  horse-power  (gross)  can  be  obtained  at  ordinary 
stages  of  the  stream  by  drawing  down  the  water  at  night,  then  the  flow  will  be  0.7  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square 
mile.  For  Falling  creek,  if  we  take  the  capacity  at  low  seasons  at  70  horse-power  (gross)  during  12  hours,  we 
find  the  corresponding  flow  to  ,be  over  half  a  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile,  or  more  than  in  the  case  of 

744 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


85 


Hitchcock's  creek;  and  if  the  capacity  in  ordinary  seasons  be  taken  at  150  horse  power  (gross)  during  12  liours,  we 
obtain  a  flow  of  over  1  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile.  It  would  therefore  seem  that  these  sand-hill  streams 
discharge  from  one-third  to  1  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  of  drainage  area,  except  during  freshets. 
(Compare  the  remarks  on  pages  04  and  05.) 

Below  Eockingham  there  have  been  four  mills  on  the  creek, .two  of  which  (Wall's  and  Acock's)  are  not  in 
operation.  There  is  also  one  other  site  not  used  just  below  Acock's  mill,  and  above  Eockingham  there  are  three 
others.  On  Falling  creek  there  are  no  mills  of  importance  except  the  factory.  The  fall  of  the  stream  from  the 
foot  of  the  Great  Falls  dam,  on  Falling  creek,  to  the  Pee  Dee,  a  distance  of  5^  miles,  is  41  feet,  or  about  8  feet  to 
the  mile.  The  pond  of  the  Great  Falls  factory  is  about  187  feet  above  tide,  and  the  mouth  of  the  creek  103  feet. 
The  fall  is  said  to  be  just  as  great  for  several  miles  above  Eockingham. 

The  tributaries  to  the  Pee  Dee  from  Anson  county  are  not  of  much  value  for  water-power,  as  they  appear  to 
lie  above  the  sand-hill  belt,  and  are  said  to  be  very  variable  in  flow.  They  are  used  only  for  small  grist-  and  saw- 
mills, which  often  have  to  stop  in  dry  weather.  Little  river,  which  rises  in  the  southern  part  of  Eandolph  county 
and  flows  south  through  Montgomery  and  into  Eichmond,  joining  the  Pee  Dee  above  Grassy  Island  shoal,  is  the 
next  tributary  worthy  of  mention,  although  its  water-power  is  not  of  much  importance.  The  length  of  the  stream 
is  about  40  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  it  drains  an  area  of  about  400  square  miles.  None  of  its  tributaries  are  of 
any  importance.  It  passes  within  a  mile  or  so  of  Troy,  the  county-seat  of  Montgomery  county,  but  there  are  no 
large  towns  directly  on  its  course.  Its  fall  is  not  large,  and  its  flow  is  said  to  be  very  variable — very  much  more  so 
than  that  of  the  sand-hill  streams  just  discussed — and  it  is  much  more  subject  to  freshets.  There  are  only  a  few 
small  saw-  and  grist-mills  on  the  stream,  and  although  it  was  said  that  there  are  some  sites  for  power,  especially  on 
its  upper  parts,  none  of  them  are  of  importance.  The  mills  in  use  have  2  or  3  pair  of  stones  and  falls  of  from  6  to 
10  feet,  generally  with  a  dam  of  about  the  same  height.  I  would  estimate  the  flow  of  the  stream  at  about  50  cubic 
feet  per  second  at  a  minimum,  and  90  or  100  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years.  The  rainfall  is  about  40  inches, 
12  in  each  season,  except  autumn. 

The  next  important  tributary  is  Eocky  river,  which  rises  in  the  southern  part  of  Iredell  county,  flows  in  a 
general  southeasterly  direction,  making,  however,  several  abrupt  bends,  and  passing  through  Mecklenburg  and 
Cabarrus  counties,  and  then  between  Stanley  on  the  north  and  Union  and  Anson  on  the  south,  its  total  length 
along  its  general  course  being  about  75  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  1,405  square  miles.  The  stream  receives  a 
number  of  considerable  tributaries,  viz:  from  the  south  and  west,  Lane's  creek  (140  square  miles),  Eichardsou's 
creek  (199  square  miles),  and  other  smaller  ones;  and  from  the  north,  Long  creek  (158  square  miles),  Irish  Buffalo 
creek,  Coddle  creek,  and  others.  There  are  no  towns  of  importance  on  the  stream.  As  the  drainage-basin  lies 
entirely  above  the  fall-line,  the  stream  offers  some  power.  The  bed  is  rock,  and  in  freshets  the  stream  often  rises 
over  its  banks.  The  power  utilized  is  for  small  saw-  and  grist-mills  and  a  cotton  factory.  The  grist-mills  have 
generally  2  run  of  stones,  which  they  can  run  almost  all  the  time,  although  the  flow  of  the  stream  is  said  to  be 
quite  variable.  The  cotton  factory,  which  is  located  not  far  from  Concord,  uses  probably  not  over  25  horse-power 
with  a  fall  of  13  feet,  and  can  run  all  the  time.  I  visited  no  particular  sites  on  the  river,  none  having  been  brought 
to  my  notice.  The  information  which  I  was  able  to  collect  is  very  meager,  but  it  seems  probable  that  there  is  not 
very  much  power  on  the  stream.  I  would  estimate  the  flow  at  its  mouth  at  between  400  and  500  cubic  feet  per 
second  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years.    The  rainfall  is  about  50  inches. 

The  Uwharrie  river,  which  enters  the  Yadkin  in  Montgomery  county  just  below  the  " narrows",  rises  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Eandolph  county,  and  pursues  a  course  nearly  due  south  through  that  county  and  Montgomery, 
its  length  in  a  straight  line  being  about  37  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  317  square  miles.  It  passes  by  no  important 
towns,  and  has  no  large  tributaries.  Its  water-power  is  not  considered  valuable,  and  is  only  used  for  country  saw- 
and  grist-mills,  having  generally  2  run  of  stones.  The  bed  is  rock,  and  the  banks  generally  tolerably  high  on  the 
lower  part,  though  the  low  grounds  are  more  extensive  on  the  upper  parts.  There  are  no  falls  on  the  stream,  and 
all  the  power  has  to  be  obtained  by  damming.  The  stream  is,  on  the  whole,  rather  sluggish,  having  a  small  fall, 
and  crossing  the  ledges  of  rock  at  small  angles,  as  has  been  noticed  when  speaking  of  the  "  narrows"  of  the  Yadkin. 
Its  flow  is  exceedingly  variable — in  fact,  the  stream  is  said  to  become  nearly  dry  in  summer— due,  perhaps,  to  the 
fact  that  it  comes  out  of  the  slaty  region,  which  has  been  referred  to  when  speaking  of  the  Deep  river.  On  this 
account  its  water-power  is  of  small  value,  and  the  mills  have  often  to  stop  in  summer.  The  lowest  mill  is  about  6 
miles  from  the  Yadkiu,  below  which  the  fall  is  very  small.  A  short  distance  above  it  is  an  old  site,  now  not  used, 
but  probably  not  of  much  value.  The  freshets  are  heavy  and  sudden,  as  is  to  be  expected  in  the  case  of  a  stream 
from  the  slate  region. 

Above  the  Uwharrie  there  are  several  small  streams  in  Eowan  and  Davidson  counties,  but  they  are  hardly 
worthy  of  special  mention,  being  utilized  only  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and  are,  as  a  rule  sluggish,  with  no  fall  or 
available  power  of  much  importance. 

The  next  important  affluent  is  the  South  Yadkin  river,  which  rises  in  the  southern  slope  of  the  Brushy 
mountains,  in  Alexander  county,  and  flows  a  little  south  of  east  through  Iredell,  and  between  Davie  and  Eowan 
counties,  joining  the  Yadkin  a  little  above  the  railroad  bridge,  its  total  length  in  a  straight  line  being  about  42 
miles,  and  its  drainage  area  820  square  miles.    Two  of  its  tributaries  from  the  north  are  worth  gaming,  viz: 

745 


86 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Hunting  and  Rocky  creeks,  which  drain  respectively  146  and  94  square  miles.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock, 
overlaid  in  places  by  detritus;  the  banks  moderately  high,  although  overflowed  in  places  in  times  of  freshet  ;  the 
fall  considerable,  and  the  flow  more  constant  than  in  the  case  of  any  of  the  tributaries  thus  far  mentioned  above 
the  sand-hill  belt.  The  power  of  the  stream  and  of  its  tributaries  is  utilized  to  a  considerable  extent  by  saw-  and 
grist-mills  and  a  few  cotton  factories,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  table  of  utilized  power.  The  first  mill  on  the  stream 
is  4  miles  from  its  mouth,  at  South  river  (Foard  &  Lindsay's),  and  has  a  fall  of  6  feet,  with  a  dam  of  the  same 
height  and  about  240  feet  long.  About  30  horse-power  is  utilized,  but  the  available  power  is  much  greater. 
The  drainage  area  above  being  about  800  square  miles,  I  would  estimate  the  capacity  at  perhaps  18  horse-power 
per  foot  fall  in  very  dry  seasons,  and  at  27  to  30  in  the  low  seasons  of  ordinary  years.  This  mill  is  sometimes 
troubled  with  backwater.  The  clam  backs  the  water  about  3  miles,  nearly  up  to  the  foot  of  the  next  power  above, 
Hairston's  or  Perkins'  shoal.  This  shoal  is  the  most  important  one  on  the  stream,  and  is  some  12  miles  from 
Salisbury,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Third  creek.  The  stream  has,  with  a  dam  3£  feet  high,  a  fall  of  15  or  10  feet 
in  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  but  the  principal  part  is  at  the  upper  end,  being  13  or  14  feet  in  200  yards.  There  was  at 
one  time  a  race  cut  on  the  north  bank  to  the  foot  of  the  shoal,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long,  and  along  it  were  a  foundry, 
a  woolen-mill,  and  a  grist-mill.  At  present  there  is  a  race  200  yards  long,  at  the  end  of  which  is  a  grist-mill,  with  a 
fall  of  13  feet,  and  there  is  also  a  saw-mill  50  yards  from  the  dam  with  a  fall  of  12  feet.  The  power  used  is  probably 
not  over  40  horse-power.  The  dam,  which  extends  entirely  across  the  stream,  is  250  feet  long,  3i  feet  high,  built  of 
wood  about  eleven  years  ago  at  a  cost  of  $1,250,  and  backing  the  water  for  a  mile  or  so,  it  is  said.  The  location  is 
an  excellent  one — safe,  and  with  good  facilities  for  canals  and  buildings.  The  practically  available  fall  being  taken 
at  about  13  feet,  and  the  drainage  area  above  being  in  the  neighborhood  of  591  square  miles,  I  would  estimate  the 
power  about  as  follows  : 

Table  of  power  at  Hair  stones  Falls,  South  YadMn  river.  % 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow 
per  second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Squaremiles. 
|  591 

Feet. 

13 

Cubic  feet. 
,  118 
148 

\  560 
1  168 

1  foot  fall. 
13.4 
16.8 
63.6 
19.1 

13  feet  fall. 

175 
220 
825 
250 

Above  this  shoal  there  are  no  mills  for  a  long  distance,  and  there  are  no  important  powers.  On  the  upper  part 
of  the  stream  there  are  small  mills,  but  none  worth  mentioning. 

The  tributaries  to  the  South  Yadkin  afford  some  very  good  small  powers.  Second,  Third,  Foiirth,  and  Fifth 
creeks,  from  the  south,  are  all  utilized  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  by  small  mills,  but  are  not  very  favorable ;  and 
Bear,  Hunting,  Eocky,  and  Snow  creeks,  from  the  north,  are  also  used.  Hunting  creek  has  a  cotton  factory  at  Eagle 
Mills  with  a  fall  of  18  feet  and  60  horse-power,  it  is  said,  the  dam  being  3£  feet  high,  and  the  race  400  feet  long. 
This  stream  is  said  to  offer  a  number  of  sites  not  used,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  tributaries  from  the  north  all 
have  a  much  greater  fall  than  those  from  the  south.  Hunting  creek  drains  an  area  of  about  146  square  miles,  and 
the  area  above  the  factory  is  about  100.  I  would  estimate  the  power  at  the  factory  at  between  2  and  3  horse-power 
gross  per  foot  fall  in  low  seasons  of  ordinary  years — nearer  3  than  2 — or  perhaps  40  horse-power  net,  with  18 
feet  fall  and  a  good  motor.  The  amount  of  power  actually  used  in  the  factory  is  uncertain.  Eocky  creek  has  also  a 
cotton  factory  at  Turnersburg,  using  a  fall  of  19  feet  and  about  80  horse-power  during  ten  months,  and  60  during 
the  remaining  two.  The  drainage  area  is  about  88  square  miles  above  the  factory  and  94  at  the  mouth  of  the 
stream.    This  stream  is  similar  in  character  to  Hunting  creek. 

The  tributaries  to  the  Yadkin  from  Forsyth,  Davie,  and  Yadkin  counties  are  not  worthy  of  special  mention, 
as  they  are  small,  and  in  some  cases  very  sluggish,  offering  no  powers  of  importance.  In  Surry  and  Wilkes  counties 
we  come  to  a  number  of  streams  which  rise  in  the  Blue  Eidge  and  pursue  a  southerty  course  to  the  river,  draining 
a  country  very  well  wooded  and  having  a  very  considerable  fall.  In  Wilkes  county  there  are  also  a  few  streams  of 
this  class  which  rise  on  the  south,  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Brushy  mountains,  and  flow  nearly  north.  All  of 
these  streams  are  said  to  afford  numerous  excellent  sites  for  power,  only  a  few  of  which  are  at  present  utilized. 
They  flow  over  rocky  beds,  with  banks  generally  favorable  for  the  construction  of  dams,  and  their  flow  is  said 
not  to  be  very  variable.  They  are  bordered  with  fertile  and  cultivated  bottom-lands.  Their  drainage  areas  are 
given  in  the  table  on  page  87,  and  as  I  was  unable  to  visit  this  part  of  the  state  on  account  of  its  inaccessibility  I 
cannot  present  much  detailed  information  regarding  them.  The  brief  notes  which  follow  below  comprise  all  that  I 
was  able  to  colleet.  The  rainfall  over  all  this  upper  part  of  the  Yadkin  valley  is  about  51  inches — 13  in  spring,  14 
in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  14  in  winter.  As  regards  the  flow  of  the  streams,  I  do  not  present  any  detailed 
estimates,  because  they  are  liable  to  be  too  far  out  of  the  way.  According  to  all  the  information  which  could  be 
obtained  regarding  power  utilized,  the  flow  must  be  large  compared  with  other  streams  of  similar  drainage  area 
746  « 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


87 


thus  far  considered.  1  would  be  inclined,  however,  to  estimate  the  flow  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years  at 
between  0.20  and  0.35  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  of  drainage  area,  varying  between  these  figures  for 
drainage  areas  between  30  and  300  square  miles  in  area. 

The  first  of  these  streams  met  with  is  the  Little  Yadkin,  which  flows  south  from  Stokes  county,  and  is  not  very 
important.  The  next,  and  the  largest  of  them  all,  is  Ararat  river,  which  has  its  source  in  Patrick  county,  Virginia, 
and  flows  south  through  Surry,  draining  315  square  miles.  It  is  said  to  be  a  very  fine  stream  for  power,  and  is 
utilized  for  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and  for  a  cotton  factory  at  Mount  Airy,  with  a  fall  of  13  feet  and  20  or  30  horse-power. 
On  its  tributaries  there  are  also  a  few  woolen-mills,  and  there  are  said  to  be  numerous  sites  not  utilized.  The 
remaining  tributaries  in  Surry  county  are  Fisher's  and  Mitchell's  rivers.  Elkin  creek,  which  flows  for  the  greater 
part  of  its  course  in  Wilkes  county,  is  used  at  Elkin  for  a  woolen  and  a  cotton  factory  (Elkin  Manufacturing  Company), 
with  a  fall  of  22  feet,  and  using  70  horse-power  during  nine  months  and  about  50  during  the  remaining  time. 
Gwyn  &  Chatham  have  also  a  woolen-mill  and  a  flour-  and  grist  mill  at  the  same  place,  but  from  a  different  dam, 
the  fall  used  being  15  feet;  35  horse-power  is  used  in  the  flour-mill.  Elkin  creek  is  said  to  be  a  very  good  stream  for 
power,  there  being  numerous  falls  not  used.  Three  miles  above  Gwyn  &  Chatham's  factory  is  a  site  known  as 
Carter's  falls,  said  to  be  a  very  fine  power,  with  a  large  fall  in  a  short  distance.  The  banks  of  these  streams  being 
generally  tolerably  high,  dams  can  be  built  without  doing  much  damage  by  overflow,  so  that  almost  the  entire  fall 
of  the  streams  is  said  to  be  practically  available  for  power,  and  there  seems  no  doubt  that  a  large  amount  of  power 
could  be  utilized.  It  is  to  be  added  that  this  part  of  the  state  is  remarkable  for  its  healthy  and  salubrious  climate. 
The  principal  drawback  at  present  is  its  inaccessibility,  the  Elkin  factory,  for  example,  being  40  miles  from  the 
nearest  railroad  station.  The  other  streams  belonging  to  this  class  need  not  be  referred  to  in  detail,  as  I  am  able 
to  present  no  particulars  regarding  them  beyond  what  has  already  been  given.  They  offer  numerous  sites  for  good 
small  powers,  but  in  all  probability  none  of  them  would  afford  more  than  2  or  3  horse-power  per  foot  fall  in  dry 
seasons.    Sites  can  be  found  on  them;  however,  where  falls  of  20  or  30  feet  can  be  obtained. 

The  following  table  will  give  in  a  more  connected  form  a  view  of  the  drainage  areas  of  the  various  streams 
tributary  to  the  Yadkin  and  Great  Pee  Dee  : 

Drainage  areas  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Yadkin  and  Great  Pee  Dee  rivers. 


Stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


Place. 


Waccamaw  river  

Do  

Do  

Black  river  

Little  Peo  Dee  river  . 

Do .'  

Do  

Do  

Lumber  river  

Lynch's  river  

Little  Lynch's  creek. 

Black  creek  

Jones'  creek  

Hitchcock's  creek  ... 

I  Do  

Palling  creek  

Little  river  

Brown's  creek  

Uwharrie  river  

Rocky  river  

Do  

Long  creek  

Richardson's  creek  . . 

Lane's  creek  

Crane  creek  

Grant's  creek  

South  Yadkin  river. . 

Do  

Third  creek  

Fourth  creek  

Bear  creek  

Dutchman's  creek  . . 
Hunting  creek  

Do  

Rocky  river  

Do  


Great  Pee  Dee  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  ... 

...do  

...do  

...do   

Little  Pee  Dee  

Great  Pee  Dee  

Lynch's  river  

Great  Pee  Dee  

...do   

...do   

...do   

Hitchcock's  creek 
Great  Pee  Dee .... , 

...do  

...do   

...do  

..  do  

Rocky  river  

...do   

...do  

Yadkin  

...do   

....do  

...do  

South  Yadkin  

Third  creek  

South  Yadkin  

...do  


.do  . 
.do  , 
.do 
.do. 


Mouth  

In  North  Carolina  

In  South  Carolina  

Mouth  , 

...do  

In  South  Carolina  

In  North  Carolina  

Mouth  of  Lumber  river 

Mouth  

...  do  


.do  . 
.do 
do 
.do  . 


At  mouth  of  Palling  creek. 

Mouth  

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

At  Garmen'8  mills  

Mouth  

...do  

...do  

...do   

....do   

...do   

Hairston's  falls  

Mouth  

...do  

....do  

...do  :  

....do  

Factory  

Mouth  

Factory  


747 


88 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Drainage  areas  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Tadlcin  and  Great  Pee  Dee  rivers — Continued. 


Stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


Place. 


Drainage 
area. 


Second  creek  

Muddy  creek  

Abbott's  creek  

Dutchman's  creek. . 

Deep  creek  

Little  Yadkin  river 

Ararat  river  

Do  

Stewart's  creek  

Loving's  creek  , 

Elkin  creek  

Fisher's  river  

Mitchell's  river  

Roaring  river  

Mulberry  creek  

Eeddie's  river  

Cub  creek  , 

Moravian  creek  

Warrior  creek  

Buffalo  creek  


South  Yadkin 

Yadkin  

...do  

...do  

...do  +  

...do   

...do   

...do   

Ararat  

....lio  

Yadkin  

...do   

...do  .,. 

....do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do   


Mouth  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

Mount  Airy 

Mouth  

...do   

....do   

....do   

...do   

....do   

...do  

....do   

....do   

....do   

....do   

....do  


108 
179 
198 
97 
106 
58 
315 
60 
51 
52 
63 
90 
81 
89 
56 
47 
37 
31 
33 
41 


Table  of  po  wer  utilized  on  the  Yadldn  [Pee  Dee)  river. 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Pee  Dee  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Yadkin  river  

Do  ,  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

"Waccamaw  and  tributaries  

Do  

Do  

Black  river  and  tributaries  

Do....:  

Little  Pee  Dee  river  and  tributaries 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do,  

Do  

Do  

Do  

po  

Lynch's  river  and  tributaries... 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

748 


Atlantic  ocean . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Great  Pee  Dee. 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


i  Carolina. . 
.  Carolina  . 


North  Carolina. 

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

South  < 
North  ( 

...do   

South  Carolina. . 

...do  

...do  

"...do  

...do   

North  Carolina 

...do   

...do  

...do  

....do  

...do   

....do  

....do   

South  Carolina. 

...do   

...do   

....do   

....do"   ... 


Richmond  

...do   

Anson  

Montgomery. . . 

...do   

...do   

...  do  

...do  

Stanley  

...do  

Eowan  

Davidson  

...do   

Forsyth  

Yadkin  

...do  

Caldwell  

Horry  

Brunswick  

...do   

Clarendon  , 

Sumter  

Marion  

...do  

Marlborough  . . . 

Columbus  

...do   

Robeson  

...do   

Richmond  

...do   

...do  

...do   

Williamsburgh 

Sumter  

...do   

Darlington  

....do   


Flour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Cotton  factory  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Agricultural  implements. 

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Rice  


Feet. 
6.5 
6.5 


8.0 


7.0 

7.5 
22.5 
14.0 
36.0 
18.0 

4.0 
18.0 
29.0 
25.0 
13.0 

9.5 


67.0 
81.5 
28.5 
35.0 
23.5 
24.0 
195.0 
68.0 
8.5 
5.0 
61.0 
10.0 
61.0 
20.0 


4 

24 
49 
30 
30 

120 
16 
12 

120 
84 
99 
26 
40 
10 
26 
50 
22 
6 
12 

136 
96 

128 
CO 
65 
20 


6.0 


259 

134 

44 

6 

74 

18 

63 

19 

31 

88 
25 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 
Table  of  power  utilized  on  the  Yadkin  (Pee  Dee)  river — Continued. 


89 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


Comity. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Lynch's  river  and  tributaries  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of  

Do...  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Hitchcock's  creek  and  tributaries . 

Do  

Little  river  

Do  

Rocky  river  and  tributaries  

Do  


Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 


South  Yadkin  river  and  tributaries 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  ;  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do....  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Ararat  and  tributaries  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  ;  

Do  

Do  


Great  Pee  Dee . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Yadkin  river. . . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


South  Carolina 
 do  


 do  

 do  

 %  

 do 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina 

 do  


.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
..lo  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
-do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do', 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 


Chesterfield... 

Kershaw  

Lancaster  

....do  

Marion  

Darlington  — 

...do  

Marlborough  . 

...do  

Chesterfield  .. 

...do   

...do  

Richmond  

...do  

Montgomery . . 

...do   

Anson  

...do   

Stanley  

...do  

Marion  

...do   

Cabarrus  

...do  

...do   

Mecklenburg  . 

Rowan  

...do   

Davie  

...do  

Iredell  , 

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

Alexander  

...do  

...do  

...do  

Richmond  

...do   

Montgomery. . 

...do   

Randolph  

...do   

Davidson  

...do   

...do  

Forsyth  

Stokes  

...do   

Anson  

...do  

Mecklenburg  . 

Rowan  , 

Davie  

...do   

Yadkin  

Surry  

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

"Wilkes  

...do   

...do  


Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Tar  and  turpentine  

Cotton  factory  

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

...  do  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

...do   

...do   

Saw  

...do   

Leather  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  factory  

...do  

Saw  

Furniture  

Blacksmithing  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

....do  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

...do  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  and  woolen  factory 

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

....do  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  and  wool  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

"Woolen  


Feet. 
27.0 
7.0 
12.  0 
52.0 


87.0 
12.0 


25.  0 


60.0 
10.0 
27.0 
77.0 
21.0 
14.0 
85.0 
28.0 
10. « 
72.0 
220.0 


34.0 
38.0 
92.0 
124.0 
101.0 
37.0 
97.0 
15.0 
56.0 
456.0 
37.0 
60.0 
12.0 
7.0 
7.0 
50.  0 
10.0 


8.0 
52.0 
206.0 
240.0 
80.0 
0.0 
227.0 
70.0 


23.0 
125.0 
38.0 


9.0 


53.0 
112.0 

69.0 

53.0 
163.0 

37.0 
140.0 

12.0 


70 
10 
20 
46 
53 
34 
200 
154 
16 
38 
62 
40 
280 
40 
42 
127 
45 
22 
258 
80 
20 
122 
321 
60 
55 
27 
42 
148 
171 
38 
109 
10 
31 
480 
140 
92 
15 
10 
4 
54 
20 
92 
15 
66 
192 
446 
154 
4 

188 
58 
73 
36 

137 
27 

132 
75 
8 

171 
95 

133 
96 
37 

110 

102 
14 


749 


90  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


VII. — THE  SANTEE  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


Drainage-basins  of  the  Santee  and  Edisto  rivers,  South  Carolina. 

DRAINAGE  AREAS. 

Square  milea. 


Santee  river,  at  mouth   14,725 

Congaree  river,  at  mouth   7, 965 

Congaree  creek,  at  mouth  ....  .   115 

Edisto  river,  at  mouth  •   2, 883 

North  fork  Edisto  river,  at  mouth   745 

South  fork  Edisto  river,  at  mouth   790 

Shaw's  creek,  at  mouth   119 

Eocky  creek,  at  mouth   195 


THE  SANTEE  EIVEE. 

The  Santee  river  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Congaree  and  the  Wateree  rivers  at  the  angle  of  the  four 
counties  of  Richland,  Sumter,  Oran  geburgh,  and  Clarendon,  South  Carolina,  whence  it  flows  in  a  general  direction  nearly 
southeast  between  Clarendou,  Williamsburgh,  and  Georgetown  counties  on  its  left,  and  Orangeburgh  and  Charleston 
on  its  right,  emptying  into  the  Atlantic  ocean  about  10  miles  north  of  Cape  Romain.  Its  total  length,  in  a  straight  line, 
is  about  90  miles,  and  by  the  river  about  184  miles.  There  are  no  towns  on  the  river,  although  it  is  navigable  for  its 
entire  length,  it  being  considered  practicable  to  secure  a  depth  of  7  feet  at  low  water  for  154  miles  and  5  feet  for  the 
remaining  distance.  The  river  flows  through  a  fertile  country,  cotton  being  the  principal  staple  on  the  upper  part 
and  rice  on  the  lower,  and  the  banks,  more  or  less  subject  to  overflow,  are  lined  with  extensive  forests  and  swamps. 
As  the  river  lies  entirely  below  the  fall-line,  and  as  its  general  character  corresponds  exactly  with  that  of  the  Great 
Pee  Dee  below  Cheraw,  it  need  not  be  described  further.  The  total  area  drained  by  the  stream  is  about  14,700 
square  miles,  and  it  has  no  tributaries  of  much  importance  below  the  junction  of  the  Wateree  and  the  Congaree.  The 
width  of  the  stream  varies  from  200  to  500  feet,  and  its  fall  averages  about  half  a  foot  to  the  mile.  The  utilized 
power  on  its  tributaries  is  tabulated  herewith. 

THE  WATEREE  (OR  CATAWBA)  RIVER. 

The  Catawba  river  rises  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  McDowell  county,  North  Carolina,  its  main 
source  being  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  a  spur  of  the  same  known  as  Bald  mountain.  It  first  flows  nearly 
northeast  into  Burke  county,  and  then  nearly  east  between  Caldwell  and  Alexander  on  its  left  and  Burke  and 
Catawba  counties  on  its  right.  It  then  bends  quite  abruptly  toward  the  south,  and  flows  in  a  direction  a  little  east 
of  south  between  Iredell  and  Mecklenburg  counties,  North  Carolina,  and  Lancaster,  Kershaw,  and  Sumter  counties, 
South  Carolina,  on  its  left,  and  Catawba,  Lincoln,  and  Gaston  counties,  North  Carolina,  and  York,  Chester, 
Fairfield,  and  Richland  counties,  South  Carolina,  on  its  right,  uniting  with  the  Congaree  to  form  the  Santee.  It 
also  flows  for  a  short  distance  through  Kershaw  county,  South  Carolina.  Its  general  course  is  seen  to  be  nearly 
parallel  to  that  of  the  Yadkin  and  the  Great  Pee  Dee.  The  river  is  known  as  the  Catawba  down  as  far  as  the  mouth 
of  the  Big  Wateree  creek,  in  Fairfield  county,  South  Carolina,  below  which  point  it  is  known  as  the  Wateree.  Its 
total  length,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  160  or  170  miles,  but  by  the  general  course  of  the  river  it  is  nearly  225  miles, 
and  over  300  miles  if  all  its  windings  are  followed.  The  length  of  the  Wateree  is  about  105  miles,*  and  the  total 
length  in  South  Carolina  about  160  miles.  The  principal  town  on  the  river  is  Camden,  South  Carolina  (population 
1,780),  there  being  no  important  ones  above. 

The  stream  is  navigable  as  high  as  Camden,  it  being  probably  practicable  to  secure  a  depth  of  2  feet  and  over 
up  to  this  place.  One  light-draught  steamer  now  plies  upon  the  river.  Above  Camden  the  fall  of  the  stream  is 
so  great  that  navigation  is  not  practicable.  About  the  year  1826  the  state  of  South  Carolina  attempted  to  render 
the  river  navigable  by  means  of  locks,  dams,  and  canals,  and  several  very  extensive  and  important  works  were 
constructed  at  great  expense;  but  the  undertaking  is  said  to  have  been  given  up  before  the  works  were  completed. 

The  total  area  drained  by  the  stream  embraces  about  5,225  square  miles  (of  which  3,085  are  in  North  Carolina), 
and  the  drainage-basin  resembles  in  many  respects  that  of  the  Yadkin,  so  that  it  need  not  be  described  here  in 
detail.  Like  the  Yadkin,  the  upper  part  of  the  river  flows  between  parallel  ranges  of  mountains,  from  which  it 
receives  a  number  of  tributaries,  affording  considerable  water-power,  and  with  a  rapid  fall,  the  width  of  the  valley 
being  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Yadkin.  In  the  lower  half  of  its  course  in  North  Carolina  the  valley  of  the 
Catawba  is  very  narrow — not  over  15  or  20  miles  in  width — and  it  receives  only  one  important  tributary,  the  South 
fork,  which  enters  from  the  west  near  the  South  Carolina  line,  after  draining  an  area  of  about  730  square  miles. 
Below  this  point  the  valley  is  wider,  but  there  are  no  tributaries  of  much  importance.  A  few  miles  above  Camden 
the  river  crosses  the  fall-line,  and  below  that  point  it  partakes  of  the  general  character  of  the  streams  of  the  eastern 


750 


*  Annual  Eeport  Chief  of  Engineers,  1880,  p.  915. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER- SHED. 


91 


division.  The  country  drained  by  the  river  is  very  fertile  and  well  populated,  the  productions  being  about  the 
same  as  in  the  Yadkin  valley.  The  valley  abounds  in  building-stone  of  the  best  kind,  and  iu  Gaston,  Lincoln,  and 
Catawba  counties  there  are  fine  deposits  of  iron  ore. 

As  regards  bed,  banks,  freshets,  and  bottoms,  the  river  resembles  the  Yadkin,  except  that  the  bottoms  are 
narrower  in  the  lower  half  of  its  course  in  North  Carolina.  There  are  no  lakes  in  the  basin,  but  in  the  upper 
part  the  facilities  for  storage  are  said  to  be  good. 

The  average  rainfall  in  the  basin  is  about  50  inches,  of  which  about  12  fall  in  spring,  14  in  summer,  10  in 
autumn,  and  14  iu  winter.  Toward  the  upper  part  of  the  stream,  however,  the  rainfall  in  winter  increases,  and  is 
probably  greater  than  in  the  summer. 

The  elevation  of  the  stream  at  different  points  is  given  in  the  following  table,  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  fall  is  very  great  for  such  a  large  stream;  and  it  is  this  large  fall  which  has  prevented  the  river  from  having 
ever  been  made  navigable,  although,  as  already  remarked,  many  years  ago  the  state  of  South  Carolina  expended  a 
great  amount  of  money  endeavoring  to  make  it  navigable  by  means  of  locks,  dams,  and  canals : 

Table  of  declivity  of  the  Catawba  and  Wateree  rivers.* 


Place. 


Junction  with  Congaree  

Crossing  of  Chester  and  Cheraw  railroad  

Crossing  of  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and  Augusta  railroad  

Crossing  of  Charlotte  and  Atlanta  Air-line  railroad  : . 

Crossing  of  Western  railroad  of  Xorth  Carolina  

Five  miles  northwest  of  Hickory  

Morgauton  

Mill  creek  at  Old  Fort  

Mill  creek,  last  crossing  of  Western  railroad  of  North  Carolina. 
Swannanoa  gap  (headwaters)  


Distance  from 
mouth. 


Miles. 


0 

125 

150 

170 

225 

250 

268 

318 

326  d 

334  d 


Elevation 
above  tide. 


Feet. 


80  ± 
365 
496 
600 
810 
978 

1,  019 
1, 510 
2, 050 

2,  658 


Distance  be- 
tween points. 


Miles. 


125 

-  25 
.  20 

-  55 

-  25 

-  18 

-  50 

•  8+ 

-  8+ 


Fall  between 
points. 


Fall  between 
points. 


Feet. 

■  -  -  285 

-  ■  ■  131 

-  -  -  104 

-  -  -  210 

-  -  •  168 

-  -  -  41 

-  -  -  491 

-  -  -  540 

-  -  -  608 


Feet  psr  mile. 

-  -  -  2.28 

-  -  -  5.24 

-  -  -  5.20 

-  -  -  3.82 

-  -  -    6. 70  (T> 

-  -  -    2. 28  (») 

-  -  -  9.80 

-  -  -  67.50 

-  -  -  70.00 


*  From  some  discrepancies  in  tho  data  obtained  from  various  sources  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  some  of  these  elevations  are  those  of  the  rails,  and  not  of  the 
water  surface.    On  this  account  this  table  must  bo  considered  as  only  a  rough  approximation. 

The  flow  of  the  river  was  measured  by  Professor  Kerr  near  Hickory,  giving  2,150  cubic  feet  per  second,  which 
is  evidently  not  the  low-season  flow,  as  the  drainage  area  above  this  point  is  not  much  over  1,000  square  miles. 

The  map  shows  the  railroads  which  cross  the  stream,  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  easily  accessible  in 
almost  all  of  its  parts. 

I  proceed  to  describe  the  powers  in  detail,  ascending  the  river. 

Formerly  the  head  of  navigation  was  5  miles  above  Camden,  at  which  point  the  river  crosses  the  fall-line  in  a 
long  shoai  extending  through  several  miles.  When  the  river  was  made  navigable  by  the  state,  in  1826  or  thereabout, 
this  fall  was  overcome  by  a  canal  5  miles  in  lengtb,  with  G  locks,  aggregating  52  feet  fall,*  the  position  of  the  canal 
being  shown  on  the  map.  I  visited  the  place  from  Camden,  from  which  town  it  is  distant  by  road  about  12  miles, 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  availability  of  the  power.  The  canal  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  which  it 
leaves  just  below  a  rocky  bluff,  from  which  a  dam  extended  out  into  the  river.  This  old  dam  is  entirely  gone, 
and  I  could  not  ascertain  what  its  height  had  been  ;  but  the  fall  for  the  next  mile  above  is  probably  10  or  12  feet, 
according  to  the  pocket-level,  although  the  stream  is  not  rocky  except  for  a  few  hundred  feet.  The  canal  had  a 
guard-lock  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  its  head,  and  below  that  it  passes  through  nearly  level  or  gently  rolling 
bottom-lands,  and  is  now  entirely  overgrown  with  underbrush  and  filled  up  with  deposits  of  all  kinds,  so  that  it  is 
in  some  places  scarcely  distinguishable.  It  retreats  some  distance  from  the  river,  the  bottom  between  them  being  on 
the  average  several  hundred  yards  wide,  and  parts  of  it  are  subject  to  overflow  in  times  of  high  water.  Near  the  foot 
of  the  canal  is  a  flight  of  three  locks,  and  a  little  farther  down  the  canal  passes  out  into  Sawney's  creek  by  an 
outlet-lock.  I  was  unable"  to  find  the  sixth  lock  mentioned  by  Mills.  The  principal  part  of  the  fall  in  the  river 
occurs  near  the  lower  end,  or  about  two-thirds  of  the  distance  from  the  head,  and  is  utilized  for  a  small  grist-mill, 
with  two  pair  of  stones,  by  means  of  a  rough  wing-dam  and  a  race  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long,  affording  a  fall  of  0  or 
7  feet  and  a  fall  to  the  tail-race  sufficient  to  avoid  the  trouble  occasioned  by  ordinary  rises  of  the  water.  In  a 
distance  of  rather  over  a  mile,  from  a  little  above  the  head  of  the  race  leading  to  the  grist-mill,  the  fall,  as 
ascertained  by  the  pocket-level,  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  20  feet.  Above  this  the  bottom  bordering  the  river  is 
subject  to  overflow  to  a  considerable  extent,  while  below  it  is  ouly  occasionally  flooded.  Below  the  mill,  too,  the 
bottom  becomes  narrower,  and  is  more  undulating  than  above.  As  regards  the  most  advantageous  method  of 
utilizing  the  power,  my  examination  was  too  superficial  to  permit  of  any  definite  conclusions  being  reached.  To 
clear  the  old  canal  out  would  require  considerable  work,  although  of  an  easy  kind.  The  capacity  of  the  canal,  too, 
could  be  easily  enlarged  if  it  were  considered  desirable  to  utilize  the  entire  power,  which  might  be  done  by  locating 

*  Statistics  of  South  Carolina,  including  a  view  of  its  natural,  civil,  and  military  history,  general  and  particular.    By  Robert  Mills 


(182G). 


751 


92 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  mills  at  the  lower  flight  of  locks,  where,  if  we  accept  Mills'  statement,  a  fall  of  some  50  feet  could  be  obtained  j 
and  the  location  here  is  probably  as  safe  and  as  favorable  as  anywhere  along  the  canal.  A  smaller  power  could  be 
much  more  easily  secured  probably  by  building  a  dam  somewhere  near  the  head  of  the  grist-mill  race  (whether  the 
bed  and  banks  there  would  be  found  very  favorable  I  cannot  say)  and  leading  a  canal  down  near  to  the  old  locks, 
in  which  way  a  fall  of  20  feet  might  probably  be  secured,  the  race  being  a  mile  or  so  long.  As  regards  the  amount 
of  power  available,  I  have  tabulated  it  below,  basing  it,  like  all  my  others,  on  estimates,  in  the  entire  absence 
of  any  data  regarding  the  flow: 

Table  of  power  at 11  Wateree  canal". 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage. 
Low  season,  dry  years. . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


4,  376 


Fall. 


Feet. 


*32 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power 
available, 
gross. 


1  foot  fall. 

109.4 
150.0 
398.0 
170.  5 


Horss-power 
available, 
gross. 


52  feet  fall. 

5,700 
7,  750  i 
20, 700 
8, 850 


*  Mills. 

I  did  not  have  time  to  look  at  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  only  cursorily  at  the  west  side ;  but  as  the  canal 
was  built  on  the  west  side,  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  "lay  of  the  land"  there  is  more  favorable  for  canals  and 
buildings  than  the  other.  The  fall  in  the  river  is  not  accompanied  by  any  violent  commotion,  being  gradual, 
and  the  river  wide,  with  a  large  volume  of  water.  This  power  is  the  first  of  the  four  great  powers  on  the  Catawba 
(Wateree)  river. 

The  second  of  these  powers,  and  the  next  one  above  the  Wateree  canal  which  necessitated  any  extensive 
navigation  works,  is  at  the  great  falls  of  the  Catawba,  near  Eocky  Mount.  Between  the  two  places,  however,  there 
is  a  very  considerable  fall,  it  being  stated  by  Mr.  Wolbrect,  United  States  assistant  engineer,  that  the  fall  in  the 
upper  17  miles  of  the  Wateree  river  is  75  feet,  or  4.5  feet  to  the  mile.*  Nevertheless,  no  particular  water-powers 
between  the  two  referred  to  were  brought  to  my  notice,  although  I  obtained  information  of  a  few  small  grist-mills. 

The  fall  at  the  Great  falls  is  similar  in  some  respects  to  that  on  the  Yadkin  at  the  "narrows",  described  on 
page  80.  The  navigation  works  planned  were  very  extensive.  In  ascending  the  river  the  course  of  the  canal  is  as 
follows:  Leaving  the  river  about  opposite  Eocky  Mount,  on  the  west  side,  it  rises  to  the  level  of  the  bottom  (which 
borders  the  river  at  this  place)  by  a  flight  of  two  locks,  aggregating  about  18  feet  lift,  crosses  the  bottom,  and  after 
passing  around  a  steep  and  rocky  bluff,  at  which  place  it  was  necessary  to  build  the  outer  wall  of  the  canal  of  solid 
masonry  for  a  distance  of  half  a  mile  or  thereabout,  within  which  distance  occurs  one  intermediate  lock,  with  a  lift 
of  about  9  feet,  it  debouches  into  Eocky  creek,  a  small  stream  which  flows  into  the  Catawba  at  a  point  in  the 
neighborhood  of  a  half  or  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  its  mouth,  opening  into  it  by  a  guard-lock,  with  a  lift  of  about  8 
feet,  situated  at  one  end  of  a  wooden  dam,  which  extended  across  the  creek,  backing  up  the  water,  with  a  navigable 
depth,  to  a  distance  of  about  a  mile.  This  first  canal  is  about  a  mile  in  length,  and  has  a  total  rise,  according  to 
what  has  been  said,  of  about  35  feet  from  low  water  in  the  Catawba  at  the  outlet-lock  to  the  crest  of  the  dam 
across  Eocky  creek.  Between  the  canal  and  the  river  is  a  bottom,  in  which  the  lower  part  of  the  canal  itself  lies, 
and  which  is  subject  to  overflow  in  times  of  freshet.  It  was  probably  on  this  account  that  the  canal  was  carried 
so  closely  around  the  bluff.  In  fact,  this  part  of  the  river,  just  below  the  principal  fall,  is  subject  to  large  rises, 
much  larger  than  within  the  next  few  miles  above,  where  the  declivity  is  great,  and  down  which  the  water  rushes 
so  rapidly  that  the  smaller  declivity  below  is  insufficient  to  carry  it  off  without  a  considerable  rise.  This  part  of 
the  canal,  as  well  as  that  above,  is  so  overgrown  with  brush  and  by  trees  of  half  a  century's  growth  that  its 
original  dimensions  cannot  be  accurately  determined.  The  lock-chambers  are  about  70  feet  by  10  feet,  and  the 
canal  was  perhaps  20  or  25  feet  wide  at  the  top  and  3  or  4  feet  deep.  The  dam  across  Eocky  creek  was  probably 
about  12  or  13  feet  high,  and  its  pool,  as  before  mentioned,  was  navigable  for  about  a  mile,  at  which  point  the 
second  portion  of  the  canal  commenced,  leaving  the  river  by  a  flight  of  4  locks,  with  together  32  feet  lift,  by  which 
it  rises  to  the  level  of  a  narrow  valley  running  about  parallel  with  the  Catawba,  but  separated  from  it  by  a  ridge. 
Along  the  side  of  this  valley,  out  of  sight  of  the  Catawba,  although  the  latter  is  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant, 
and  with  a  ridge  nearly  a  hundred  feet  high  between  them,  passes  the  canal  for  a  distance  of  about  2  miles,  at  the 
end  of  which  the  valley  that  it  has  been  following  opens  out  into  the  river,  but  at  an  elevation  above  it  of  20  or  30 
feet,  having  gradually  become  narrower  as  the  river  was  approached,  and  at  its  upper  end  being  very  little  more 
than  wide  enough  to  carry  the  canal  without  cutting  into  the  hill-sides.  Within  this  two  miles,  from  the  point 
where  it  leaves  Eocky  creek  till  it  again  reaches  the  river,  the  canal  has,  in  addition  to  the  4  locks  already 
mentioned,  two  flights  of  locks,  one  with  4  locks,  aggregating  36  feet  lift,  and  another  with  3  locks,  and  in  all  27  feet 
lift,  as  far  as  could  be  ascertained.  Both  of  these  flights  of  locks  are  situated  in  the  lower  part  of  the  valley 
followed  by  the  canal,  and  at  points  where  it  is  several  hundred  yards  wide.  The  ridge  between  the  river  and  the 
canal  is  interrupted  at  a  point  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  where  the  canal  again  comes  in  sight  of  the  river  by 
a  narrow  ravine,  which  retreats  down  to  the  river,  and  is  not  over  100  feet  wide.  From  the  point  where  the  canal 
reaches  the  bank  of  the  river  it  proceeds  about  a  mile  further,  first  skirting  the  face  of  a  steep  and  rocky  bluff,  and 


752 


'Annual  Eeport  Chief  of  Engineers,  1880,  p.  915. 


DRAINAGE  BASIN. 

01?  THE  . 

"WATEREE,\ COXGAI1EE.  / 

RLYERS. 

Scale: 


^\  E-aiTAYUORSVIUiS 

i 

i  «\ 

«■     -I      \/        U  je*:;STAT£SV!LLEi 


Mi  E  W  tVwJ^/A'  7'Ai.v 


SherfylUFd. 


o  ,l  In  a  * 

"r"*~'  ^ 


o  X 


A  N 


E  L  D^Of'  ^ 


V  —3 


l_  \J  LEXINGTON" 


X 


U  M 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


93 


then  across  a  bottom,  and  after  rising  about  9  feet,  by  a  lock  situated  in  the  latter,  it  opens  into  the  river  by  a 
guard-lock  and  a  dam,  which  seems  to  have  extended  across  to  an  island,  backing  up  the  water  between  it  and  the 
right  bank  of  the  river,  as  well  as  some  distance  up  Fishing  creek,  which  enters  a  short  distance  above,  and 
enabling  boats  to  pass  out  into  the  river,  up  between  the  island  and  the  shore,  and  up  Fishing  creek,  just  as  they 
did  below  up  Eocky  creek.  The  third  portion  of  the  canal,  which  I  did  not  have  an  opportunity  to  examine,  leaves 
Fishing  creek  at  a  point  a  mile  or  so  from  its  mouth  (according  to  the  map),  and  after  a  length  of  a  mile  or  a  mile 
and  a  half,  in  which  distance,  according  to  Mills,  the  fall  is  56  feet,  opens  into  the  river  again,  which  is  navigable 
from  this  point  to  Landsford,  a  distance  of  12  miles  or  thereabout.  As  regards  the  river  itself,  its  fall  in  a  distance 
of  a  mile  and  a  half  or  thereabout,  down  to  the  point  where  the  second  portion  of  the  canal  passes  in  behind  the 
ridge,  as  ascertained  by  the  pocket-level,  is  about  35  or  40  feet.  At  this  point  there  was  formerly  a  small  mill. 
Below  this  the  river  is  narrower,  and  the  water  rushes  with  great  velocity  between  steep,  rocky,  and  almost  vertical 
banks,  falling  about  25  feet  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  ravine  already  referred  to  as 
running  up  to  the  canal,  making  a  total  fall  to  this  place  from  a  point  not  far  from  the  head  of  the  second  portion  of 
the  canal  of,  say,  60  feet  in  a  distance  of  about  one  and  a  half  miles.  Just  below  the  ravine  was  located  a  cotton 
factory,  using  a  fall  of  some  5  to  7  feet,  with  a  wing-dam,  and  built  almost  over  the  water.  The  banks  in  this  portion 
of  the  river  are  so  steep  and  rocky  as  to  preclude  the  construction  of  a  canal  or  of  extensive  buildings,  at  least  on 
the  west  side  of  -  the  river.  The  cotton  factory  was  a  small  building,  not  more  than  50  by  25  feet.  From  the  mouth 
of  the  ravine  the  river  falls  about  30  feet  in  the  next  quarter  of  a  mile,  making  nearly  100  feet  in  about  2  miles. 
These  are  the  great  falls  of  the  Catawba.  The  total  fall  is  stated  to  be  173  feet  in  8  miles.*  The  largest  fall  in  a 
short  distance  occurs  between  the  old  mill-site  and  the  ravine,  the  river  at  this  point  being  not  over  150  feet 
wide,  while  its  average  width  for  half  a  mile  is  not  over  200  feet  perhaps,  and  at  the  narrowest  part  it  rushes  with 
tremendous  force  over  its  rocky  bed — a  sheet  of  foam,  falling  some  10  or  15  feet  in  150  or  200  feet. 

The  enormous  power  at  this  place  is  entirely  unutilized  at  present,  but  a  considerable  portion  of  it  could  be 
rendered  available  without  much  difficulty,  I  think,  in  various  ways.  I  have  already  mentioned  the  fact  that  except 
for  small  falls  and  small  buildings  there  is  no  opportunity  for  the  utilization  of  power  along  that  part  of  the 
river  opposite  the  second  portion  of  the  canal.  A  building  might  be  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  factory  and  a 
fall  of  10  feet  obtained  with  ease,  but  only  room  for  a  small  building.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  the  dwellings  of 
the  factory  operatives  were  on  the  top  of  the  ridge  between  the  river  and  the  canal.  But  any  scheme  for  the 
extensive  utdization  of  the  power  must,  I  think,  include  the  use  of  the  old  canal,  and  in  this  respect  various 
methods  may  be  employed,  as  follows : 

1st.  By  rebuilding  the  dam  at  the  head  of  the  second  portion  of  the  canal,  raising  that  portion  of  the  canal 
below  the  first  lock  and  locating  the  mills  in  or  near  the  ravine  already  described,  discharging  the  water  through  the 
same  into  the  river,  a  fall  of  at  least  50  feet  could  be  obtained,  necessitating,  however,  considerable  work  in  cutting 
out  the  ravine  for  a  tail-race,  and  with  poor  building  facilities.  The  quantity  of  water  will  vary,  of  conrse,  according 
to  the  dimensions  given  to  the  canal.  If  the  canal  is  not  raised  to  the  level  of  the  former  dam,  or  nearly  so,  but  is 
left  at  the  ravine,  as  it  was  originally,  the  fall  available  will  be  at  least  30  or  35  feet. 

2d.  At  any  or  all  of  the  three  flights  of  locks  mentioned  above  Bocky  creek  the  facilities  for  utilizing  a  large 
power  are  very  good,  there  being  ample  building-room,  and  the  water  being  discharged  into  Bocky  creek.  This  is, 
in  my  opinion,  the  best  way  of  utilizing  the  power.  The  available  fall  of  all  three  flights  is  95  feet,  and  the  fall  of 
Eocky  creek  would  doubtless  prevent  any  danger  whatever  from  freshets  or  any  trouble  from  backwater ;  of  course 
there  would  be  no  trouble  with  ice.  If  the  level  of  the  canal  were  raised,  so  that  it  ran  (nearly)  level  from  its  head 
to  these  flights  of  locks,  the  available  fall  would  be  increased  to  about  110  feet. 

3d.  As  regards  the  power  on  the  first  (lowest)  portion  of  the  canal,  below  Eocky  creek,  the  total  amount 
of  water  brought  through  the  second  portion,  together  with  the  entire  flow  of  Eocky  creek,  could  be  turned  into 
the  canal,  provided  it  were  of  sufficient  capacity  and  utilized  lower  on  the  stream.  By  raising  thatportion  of  the  canal 
below  the  first  lock,  an  available  fall  of  about  30  or  35*feet  could  be  secured  at  the  lower  end ;  but  as  this  whole 
bottom,  through  which  the  canal  passes,  is  subject  to  overflow,  the  facilities  for  building  are  not  so  good  as  in  the 
last  case.  Still,  there  is  no  reason  why  this  fall  could  not  be  utilized,  if  desired.  This  site  would  suffer  also  more 
troublg  with 'backwater  than  the  last  one  described,  which  would  be,  in  fact,  almost  absolutely  free  from  it. 
Summing  up  the  lifts  of  all  the  locks  in  the  first  and  second  portions  of  the  canal  we  see  that  the  total  fall. is  130 
feet  and  over,  as  follows : 

Feet. 


One  guard-lock  at  upper  end  of  second  portion,  lift,  say   — 

Ono  lock  half  a  mile  below,  lift,  say   9 

Flight  of  3  locks,  9  feet  each,  behind  ridge,  lift,  say   27 

Flight  of  4  locks,  9  feet  each,  behind  ridge,  lift,  say   36 

Flight  of  4  locks,  8  feet  each,  behind  ridge,  lift,  say   32 

Guard-lock  at  head  of  first  portion  (lowest),  lift,  say   — 

Lock,  half  a  mile  below,  close  to  bluff,  lift,  say   9* 

Two  locks,  outlet  to  river,  9  feet  each,  lift,  say   18 

Total   131+ 

*  Mills'  statistics  of  South  Carolina. 

1012  W  P— JK)L  16  48  753 


94 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Mills  states  the  fall  as  121  feet,  and  the  number  of  locks  as  13  ;  but  as  this  part  of  the  canal  was  in  process  of 
construction  when  his  book  was  written,  some  changes  were  evidently  made  thereafter. 

The  accompanying  sketch  of  the  Catawba  river  at  the  Great  falls,  South  Carolina,  while  it  makes  no  pretensions 
to  accuracy,  will  at  least  give  some  idea  of  the  general  situation. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  canal,  from  Fishing  creek  through  to  the  river,  I  was  unfortunately  unable  to  examine. 
The  power  there  is  said  to  be  available,  and  any  persons  seeking  a  location  will,  of  course,  thoroughly  examine  this 
as  well  as  the  lower  portion  of  the  canal. 

As  regards  the  amount  of  power  available,  I  have  estimated  it  as  follows  : 


Table  of  available  power  at  the  great  falls  of  the  Catawba. 


State  of  flow  (see  pp.  18  to  21). 

Drainage  area. 

Tall. 

Flow  per  sec- 
ond. 

Horse-power 
available,  gross. 

Horse-power 
available,  gross. 

Remarks. 

Maximum,  with  storage  

Low  season,  dry  years  

Square  miles. 
*3, 600 

Feet. 
173 

Cubic  feet. 

(■  793 
1, 080 
2, 900 

l            1, 230 

1  foot  fall. 

90 
123 
330 
140 

173  feet  fall. 
15,  500 
21,000 
57,  000 
24,  000 

Drainage  area  for  second  portion  of  canal  is  3,830, 
}  and  for  lower  portion  4,015  square  miles,  taking  in 
J     Fishing  and  Rocky  creeks. 

*Without  Fishing  creek. 


To  render  the  whole  of  this  flow  available  would  require  a  canal  of  considerably  larger  dimensions  than  the 
existing  one,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  table  of  capacity  calculated  for  the  canals  at  Weldon,  on  the 
Koanoke,  and  Buckhorn  falls,  on  the  Cape  Fear. 

The  power  just  described  is  about  25  miles  from  Chester,  the  nearest  point  on  the  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and 
Augusta  railroad,  and  about  8  miles  below  where  the  Chester  and  Cheraw  railroad  crosses  the  river.  The  upper 
portion  of  the  canal,  above  Fishing  creek,  is  not  more  than  five  or  six  miles  from  the  latter  road,  so  that  it  has  the 
advantage  in  point  of  location,  and  shoidd  by  no  means  be  overlooked  by  persons  wishing  to  find  power. 

Proceeding  up  the  river,  there  is  no  power  of  much  importance  till  we  arrive  at  Landsford,  about  4  miles  above 
the  railroad,  where  the  third  canal  was  built  by  the  state.  This  canal  was  nearly  2  miles  long,  and  had  a  guard-lock 
and  4  lift-locks,  with  about  35  feet  lift  in  all.  It  passes  through  a  bottom  for  its  entire  length,  retreating  in  some 
places  about  300  yards  from  the  river,  leaving  abundant  room  for  building  purposes,  and  is  not  liable  to  be  often 
overflowed.  At  the  head  of  the  canal  a  curved  dam  of  loose  rock  extends  across  to  an  island,  its  length  being 
about  1,500  feet,  and  its  height  4J  feet.  It  raises  the  water  only  about  2£  feet.  About  a  mile  below  is  a  pair  of  locks 
with  a  lift  together  of  18  feet,  over  which  Mr.  W.  E.  Davie  has  a  grist-mill,  using  a  fall  of  18  feet,  with  a  turbine- 
wheel  giving  25  horse-power,  discharging  the  water  into  the  river  through  a  break  in  the  bank  of  the  canal  below 
the  locks,  and  having  a  fall  of  6  or  7  feet  io  the  tail-race.  The  total  fall  from  the  ordinary  level  of  water  in  the  canal 
to  low  water  in  the  river  at  this  place  is  nearly  29  feet.  The  mill  is  not  often  troubled  by  high  water,  owing  to  the 
rapid  fall  in  the  river  for  some  distance  below.  Five  hundred  yards  or  over  below  this  mill  are  two  outlet-locks, 
with  a  total  lift  of  about  17  feet  from  low  water,  and  making  the  total  fall  in  the  canal,  exclusive  of  that  in  the 
guard-lock,  about  35  feet.  With  a  tight  dam  at  the  head  of  the  canal  a  fall  of  40  feet  could  be  obtained,  which, 
however,  could  not  all  be  utilized,  except  perhaps  at  low  water,  unless  the  dam  were  made  over  6  or  8  feet  high. 
The  stream  is  quite  wide  opposite  the  canal,  and  the  rise  in  freshets  not  great. 

The  drainage  area  above  Landsford  is  about  3,425  square  miles.   The  available  power  I  estimate  as  follows : 


Table  of  power  at  Landsford. 


State  of  flow  (see  pp.  18  to  21). 

Drainage  area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Remarks. 

Minimum  

Square  milee. 
3,  425 

Feet. 

40 

 4 

Cubic  feet, 
r  750 
J       1, 027 
1       2, 900 
1       1, 160 

1  foot  fall. 

85.3 
116.7 
330.0 
131.8 

IS  feet  fall. 

1, 540 
2,100 
5, 900 
2,  370 

40  feet  fall. 

3, 400 
4, 650 
13,  000 
•             5, 270 

(  25  horse-power  (net)  util- 
r   ized.  « 

J  • 

This  site  is  within  4  miles  of  the  Chester  and  Cheraw  railsoad,  from  which  a  branch  road  can  be  easily  extended 
to  it.*  It  is  22  miles  from  Chester,  and  about  20  miles  below  the  crossing  of  the  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and 
Augusta  railroad.  It  wiU  be  found,  I  think,  to  be  the  most  available  site  which  we  have  thus  far  met  upon  the 
river,  although  I  cannot  speak  of  the  upper  part  of  the  canal  below,  near  Fishing  creek,  not  having  visited  it. 
Opposite  the  canal,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  is  a  small  grist-mill,  with  a  wing-dam  and  a  small  fall. 

Above  Landsford  there  are  no  powers  of  importance  in  South  Carolina,  although  there  is  a  small  mill  just 
below  where  the  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and  Augusta  railroad  crosses.  There  are  several  shoals,  with  falls  of  from  3 
to  5  feet,  some  of  which  have  been  used,  but  the  trouble  with  high  water  is  so  great  that  they  are  of  no  value. 
A  mile  or  so  above  the  mouth  of  the  Souffli  fork  there  was  a  grist-mill  with  a  fall  of  3  or  4  feet,  and  above  it 

*  Liberal  propositions  are  made  lor  the  development  of  this  power  with  an  8-foot  dam  at  the  head  of  the  canal. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


95 


the  cotton  factory  of  the  Eock  Island  Manufacturing  Company,  which  was  moved  because  the  high  water  was  so 
troublesome,  the  fall  having  been  5  feet.    Both  of  them  were  on  the  Mecklenburg  side. 

It  may  be  mentioned  here  that  the  width  of  the  Catawba  between  the  North  Carolina  line  and  the  mouth  of 
the  Wateree  creek  varies  between  300  and  3,000  feet,  while  the  banks  vary  in  height  from  10  to  100  feet. 

The  river  was  surveyed  in  1824,  under  authority  of  the  state  of  North  Carolina,  between  the  state-line  and 
Moore's  shoals,  10  miles  below  Morgauton,  by  Mr.  Hamilton  Fulton,  a  portion  of  whose  map  and  profile  is  in  the 
office  of  the  state  geologist  in  Raleigh,  from  which  the  table  of  shoals  further  on  is  condensed.*  Beside  the  shoals 
mentioned  in  the  table,  there  are  numerous  others  of  smaller  fall,  but  which,  however,  may  be  more  favorable  for 
power  than  those  named,  being  perhaps  more  favorably  located,  and  permitting  the  erection  of  high  dams.  All 
these  points  can  only  be  determined  by  a  survey. 

After  Ross's  falls,  which  is  probably  one  of  the  shoals  referred  to  as  having  been  used  by  a  small  mill,  or 
perhaps  a  factory,  the  next  important  shoal  is  Tuckasegee  shoal  (also  called  Powder-Mill  shoal),  close  to  tbe  crossing 
of  the  Carolina  Central  railroad.    It  is  only  utilized  on  the  west  side  by  a  grist-mill,  with  about  4  feet  fall. 

Three  miles  above  it  is  the  fourth  large  power  on  the  Catawba,  at  Mountain  Island  shoal,  about  3  miles  above 
the  railroad,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Dutchman's  creek.  The  fall  in  the  river  between  a  point  one  mile  above  the 
factory,  or  a  little  above  the  head  of  the  shoal,  and  the  railroad  bridge  below  is  38  feet,  t  but  of  this  fall  nearly  30 
feet  occurs  in  one  mile  near  the  factory.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock,  the  banks  on  the  east  side  very  bluffy, 
while  they  are  shelving  on  the  west  and  very  favorable  for  building,  with  no  danger  in  high  water.  The  power  is 
utilized  to  a  small  extent  by  the  cotton  factory  of  G.  K.  Tate  &  Brothers.  At  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  a  series  of  three 
small  islands  near  the  right  bank,  with  a  distance  of  only  a  few  feet  between  them  and  the  shore,  and  between  the 
islands  and  tbe  shore  a  certain  amount  of  water  flows  naturally,  with  no  dam  to  turn  it  in.  This  water  is  all  that  is 
used  by  the  factory,  there  being  no  dam  at  the  head  of  the  islands,  and  the  only  dams  being  three  slough-dams, 
connecting  the  islands  with  each  other  and  the  'lowest  one  with  the  shore,  the  two  former  of  which  are  of  rough  stone 
and  the  third  of  crib-work,  and  about  40  feet  long  and  8  feet  high.  From  the  foot  of  the  lowest  island  an  artificial 
race  about  GOO  feet  long  leads  to  the  factory,  where  a  fall  of  22  feet  is  used  and  about  190  horse-power;  in  addition 
to  which  there  is  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  and  a  cotton-gin,  using  together  50  to  60  horse-power  and  15  to  1G  feet  fall. 
Full  capacity  can  be  secured  all  the  time.  The  total  distance  between  the  head  of  the  small  islands  referred  to  and 
the  factory  is  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  below  which  the  fall  continues  for  a  short  distance.  The  fall  in  the 
canal  is  considerable,  and  I  think  that  the  total  fall  down  to  the  factory  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  26  feet. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  shoal  being  about  1,538  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the  power  as  follows : 


Table  of  power  at  Mountain  Island  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pp.  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Sq.  mile*. 
1,  538 

Feet. 

•30 

Cubic  feet, 
r  300 
380 

]       1, 350 
1  450 

1  footfall. 

34.1 
43.2 
153.4 
51.1 

25  feet  fall. 

850 
1, 080 
3, 800 
1, 275 

30  feet  fall. 

1,  000 
1,  300 
4,600 
1,  500 

*  See  description. 


The  whole  of  this  large  power  is  easily  available  on  the  west  bank,  with  good  facilities  for  buildings  and  canals. 
A  series  of  mills  could  be  built,  using  an  average  fall  of  25  feet  or  more,  and  with  little  trouble  from  high  water, 
and  none  from  ice.  The  west  side  is  not  so  favorable.  It  is  to  be  remarked  that  the  pond  would  probably  be  small, 
and  the  power  could  not  be  concentrated  into  fewer  than  24  hours  except  by  reservoirs  elsewhere.  The  shoal  is 
12  miles  from  Charlotte  and  3  miles  from  the  Carolina  Central  railroad,  with  which  it  might  easily  be  put  in 
communication  by  rail.  It  is  in  the  cotton-belt,  and  in  a  most  healthy  part  of  the  country.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
available  powers  I  visited. 

Just  aboye  Mountain  island  the  river  makes  a  remarkable  bend,  or  horse-shoe,  the  distance  by  land  across 
the  chord  being  1£  miles,  while  it  is  7£  miles  around  by  the  river.  %  This  bend  has  been  talked  of  as  a  site  for 
water-power,  which  would  afford  a  large  fall  if  the  bend  were  cut  through.  According  to  Professor  Kerr,  however, 
the  river  is  sluggish  along  the  bend,  and  the  total  fall  is  small,  some  9  or  10  feet  only. 

I  did  not  visit  any  of  the  shoals  above  Mountain  island,  and  can  therefore  give  no  particulars  regarding  them 
beyond  what  is  in  the  table.  The  next  utilized  power,  however,  if  we  pass  over  a  few  small  saw-  and  grist-mills, 
is  in  Catawba  county,  where  thtre  are  two  cotton  factories,  located  between  Buffalo  shoals  and  Lookout  shoals,  and 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  railroad.  The  Granite  shoals  mill,  or  the  factory  of  the  Catawba  Manufacturing  Company 
(A.  M.  Powell,  president),  uses  a  fall  of  5£  feet  and  35  or  40  horse-power.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  built  in 
1871,  costing  $1,000,  and  the  main  part  of  it  extends  across  to  an  island,  being  200  feet  long  and  5.5  feet  high,  while 
a  wing-dam  700  feet  long  and  2  feet  high  extends  from  the  island,  reaching  only  about  half  way  across  the  river. 
There  is  no  race.    Full  capacity  can  be  secured  all  the  time  (except  during  high  water).    The  other  factory,  Long, 

*  Extract  from  Annual  Eeport  Chief  of  Engineers,  1876,  p.  33,  et  seq.    t  From  information  furnished  by  B.  S.  Guion,  C.  E. ,  Lincolnton,  N.  C. 
t  Annual  report  Chief  of  Engineers,  167^,  app.  G,  p.  31. 


96 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Island  factory,  owned  by  Powell  &  Shuford,  uses  7  feet  fall  and  35  or  40  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  at  all 
times.  The  dam  extends  half  way  across  the  river,  was  built  iu  1872,  cost  $3,000,  and  is  of  wood  and  stone,  500 
feet  long  and  4  feet  high.    The  race  is  200  feet  long. 

The  next  improved  power  of  importance  is  the  mill  of  Eamsour,  Bonnewell  &  Co.,  in  Caldwell  county,  three 
miles  from  Hickory,  but  on  just  what  shoal  I  do  not  know,  although  the  location  corresponds  very  well  with  that 
of  Horseford  shoals,  the  largest  shoal  on  this  part  of  the  river.  They  have  a  dam  made  of  logs,  built  in  1853, 
extending  nearly  half  way  across  the  river,  being  about  250  feet  long  and  18  inches  high.  A  race  one-half  mile  long 
leads  to  the  mills  (grist  and  saw),  where  the  fall  is  8  feet.  Not  over  40  or  50  horse-power  is  used,  which  can  be  obtained 
all  the  time.    If  this  power  is  really  at  Horseford  shoals,  it  is  a  valuable  one,  as  the  estimate  of,  power  shows. 

Devil's  shoals  is  said  to  be  a  very  fine  site,  situated  6  miles  from  Hickory  (on  the  Carolina  Central  railroad)  and 
12  miles  south  of  Lenoir.  It  is  not  improved  at  all.  A  ledge  of  rock  is  said  to  extend  entirely  across  the  river, 
offering  a  fine  site  for  a  dam. 

Above  this  I  have  no  detailed  information  of  the  shoals,  but  there  are  doubtless  other  sites  for  power.  The 
stream  is  rapid,  the  bed  rock,  and  the  low  grounds  on  either  side  subject  to  overflow.  The  only  mills  in  this  part 
of  the  state  are  saw-  and  grist-mills.  Near  Morganton,  at  Eocky  ford,  Major  J.  W.  Wilson  has  a  good  site,  used  for 
a  grist-mill,  the  fall  being  9  feet  and  over,  with  a  dam  2  feet  high,  400  feet  long,  and  a  head-race  of  1,400  feet.  The 
wheel  gives  60  or  70  horse-power,  and  there  is  never  lack  of  water. 

Above  Morganton  the  river  has  a  rapid  fall,  but  it  is  more  gradual  than  below,  the  shoals  being  more  numerous, 
but  not  with  such  great  descents.  Between  Morganton  and  the  mouth  of  Mill  creek  there  are  197  shoals,  with  an 
average  fall  of  about  2  feet,  the  distance  being  50  miles.    The  valley  narrows  to  two,  one,  and  one-half  miles  in  width. 

In  McDowell  county  the  river  forks  into  Mill  creek,  which  the  Western  North  Carolina  railroad  follows,  and 
the  South  Catawba,  on  which  ogcur  the  Catawba  falls,  where  the  fall  is  said  to  be  several  hundred  feet  in  a  short 
distance,  but  the  stream  is  too  small  to  be  used  much  for  power.  Both  of  these  streams,  as  well  as  the  others  which 
enter  the  Catawba  in  McDowell  county,  are  mountain  streams,  with  a  large  fall  and  often  abrupt  descents  of  many 
feet,  forming  cascades  and  cataracts  of  great  beauty.    Some  of  them  are  used  by  small  grist-  and  saw-mills. 

Summary  of  power  on  the  Catawba  and  Wateree  rivers. 


4 

0 

Rainfall. 

Total  fall. 

Horse-power  available,  gross.* 

mce  from  mi 

aage  area. 

si 

i 

0 

a 

a 

6 

i 

a 

mum  low 
leason. 

5  B 

a  ° 

season,  dry 
years. 

Disti 

.a 

S 

R 

Sprii 

Sumi 

_g 
< 

"3 
k 

u 

s 
<v 

tx 

Heig 

60 
0 
<o 
>1 

Mini 

Mini 

CS 
* 

Low 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Feet. 

Miles. 

Sq.  m. 

In. 

Miles. 

85  + 

4,375 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

52.00 

5.  00 

5,700 

7,750 

20,  700 

8,850 

117  + 

3, 600+ 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

173.  00 

8.  00 

15,  500 

21, 000 

57,  000 

24,  000 

130 

3,425 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

40.  00 

2.00 

3,400 

4,  650 

13,  000 

5,270 

161 

1,  725 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

8.13 

0.  90 

300 

400 

1,400 

450 

169 
175  + 

1,670 
1,538 

12 
12 

14 

10 
10 

14 

50 

11.22 

1.  02 

425 
1,600 

525 

1,900 

600 
2,  300 

14 

14 

50 

46.52 

3. 10 

2,000 

7,000 

178 

1,  500  + 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

3.  93 

0.  22 

130 

170 

600 

200 

188 

1,  455 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

27.25 

4. 17 

900 

1,125 

4,  000 

1, 300 

194 

1, 420 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

13.00 

2. 38 

420 

520 

1,850 

600 

210 

1,  342 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

13. 13 

1.  88 

400 

500 

1,  750 

600 

212 

1, 307 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

23. 44 

1.  69 

700 

870 

3,  000 

1,  000 

214 

1,290 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

3. 93 

0.  05 

120 

150 

500 

175 

215 

1, 287 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

11.41 

0.  66 

325 

400 

1,450 

475 

222 

1,205 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

9.  71 

2. 18 

250 

325 

1,  200 

375 

224 

1,  200 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

8.  64 

1.  32 

225 

300 

1,  000 

350 

225 

1, 184 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

54.  25 

3. 20 

1, 450 

1,  850 

6, 400 

2, 100 

231 

1, 180 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

9.70 

1.16 

260 

325 

1,150 

375 

233 

1, 125 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

8.94 

1. 87 

225 

280 

1,  000 

325 

235 

1,100± 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

14.82 

1.  02 

375 

475 

1,  650 

525 

245 

964 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

31. 43 

2.91 

700 

875 

3,  000 

1,  000 

249 

935 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

8.88 

1.82 

190 

240 

850 

275 

251 

918 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

13.78 

1.01 

290 

360 

1,275 

425 

262 

557 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

9.50 

0.  30 

100 

140 

575 

160 

90 

4, 376  j 

28,  0*00 

125 

3, 450  > 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

200  ± 

35.00 

19,  500 

24,  000 

70,  000 

125 

3,  450 1 

225 

1,  200  | 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

445 

100.  00 

22,  500 

28,  000 

90,  000 

32,  500 

225 

1, 200  } 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

209 

37.  00 

4, 000 

5,200 

18,  500 

6,000 

262 

557> 

75 
262 

4,  500  > 
557  > 

12 

14 

10 

14 

50 

854  ± 

187.  00 

52,  000 

65,  000 

199.  000 

75,  000 

Locality. 


Wateree  canal . ,  

■Great  falls  

Landsford  shoals  

Boss'  falls  

Tuckasegee  shoals  

Mountain  Island  shoals  

Abernathy's  falls  

Cowan's  ford  shoal8  

Beattie's  ford  shoals  

Sberrill's  ford  shoals  

Crawford  Island  shoals  

Small  shoals  

Buffalo  shoals  

Lookout  shoals  

Lower  Little  river  shoals  

Canoe  landing  shoals  

Great  falls  

Horseford  shoals  

Shoal  

Devil's  shoals  

Bocky  ford  shoals  

Between  head  of  Wateree  canal  

and  crossingof  Chester  and  Cheraw 
railroad. 

Between  crossing  of  Chester  and 
Cheraw  railroad — 

*   and  crossing  of  Western  North 
Carolina  railroad. 

Between  crossing  of  Western  North 
Carolina  railroad — 

and  Morganton  «.  

Total  between  Camden  

and  Morganton  


Utilized. 


ft 


a 

1  * 

'wi 

0 


Feet. 

7.  0  0.  8 

0.  0  0.  0 

♦18.  0  1.  2+ 


250    22. 0 


607 


9.5 


257.5 


30.0— 


2.0— 


Bemarks. 


Utilized,  80  horse- 
power and  12.  S 
feet  fall. 


These  figures  are 
of  no  practical 
value. 


756 


'  See  pages  18  to  21. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  97 

TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  CATAWBA  (WATEREE)  RIVER. 

The  point  where  the  Wateree  and  the  Congaree  meet  is  nearly  on  the  lower  limit  of  the  belt  of  sand-hills  already 
referred  tOj  perhaps  a  little  below  it.  As  a  consequence,  the  tributaries  of  the  Wateree  for  a  distance  of  upward 
of  30  miles  in  a  straight  line  belong  to  the  class  of  sand-hill  streams.  Eegarding  them  but  little  is  to  be  said, 
none  of  them  having  been  utilized  except  to  a  small  extent.  Some  of  them  are  swampy  and  of  no  value,  while 
others  might  be  made  to  afford  large  powers.  The  most  prominent  of  these  streams  are  Big  and  Little  Pine  Tree 
creeks,  the  latter  a  tributary  of  the  former,  which  passes  close  by  the  town  of  Camden;  and  they  are  said  to  be  the 
best  of  the  sand-bill  tributaries  of  the .  Wateree.  The  water-bearing  stratum  of  the  sand-hill  streams  in  this 
neighborhood  is  stated  to  be  an  impervious  white  clay,  while  nearer  the  surface  of  the  ground  is  a  layer  of  pervious 
red  clay.  The  valleys  of  the  two  streams  above  referred  to  are  said  to  be  very  favorable  to  the  production  of  large 
ponds,  so  that  by  damming  large  storage-room  can  be  obtained.  They  are  utilized  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and 
offer  some  available  sites  for  power,  regarding  which  I  gained  the  following  information:  Big  Pine  Tree  creek  has 
five  sites,  of  which  all  have  at  some  time  been  improved.  The  lowest  mill,  a  grist-mill  and  cotton-gin,  uses  only  a 
part  of  the  creek,  and  is  subject  tq,stoppage  from  backwater,  the  river  (Wateree)  being  said  to  rise  30  feet  at  times. 
The  available  fall  here  is  said  to  be  18  feet,  subject  to  reduction  by  high  water.  Farther  up  the  stream,  and  just 
above  £he  mouth  of  Little  Pine  Tree  creek,  there  was  formerly  a  mill,  using,  it  is  said,  a  fall  of  16  feet,  and  above 
it  was  a  second  mill  with  15  feet,  neither  of  which  is  now  in  existence.  The  fall  in  the  six  miles  just  above  the 
mouth  of  Little  Pine  Tree  is  stated,  and  doubtless  accurately,  at  30  feet,  and  these  two  sites  are  said  to  be  the  best 
on  the  stream.  The  lower  one  had  a  race  a  mile  long,  but  the  upper  one  had  none.  Above  the  latter  there  are  two 
grist-mills  in  operation.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  stream  is  an  excellent  one  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and 
that  large  amounts  of  power  could  be  obtained  from  it  at  the  two  sites  near  Camden,  especially  as  it  would  probably 
be  practicable  to  secure  ponds  sufficiently  large  to  store  all  the  water  during  thft  night.  According  to  what  has 
been  said  on  pages  61,  62,  84,  and  85  regarding  these  sand-hill  streams,  and  the  data  which  have  been  obtained 
regarding  their  flow  in  the  cases  of  the  tributaries  to  the  Cape  Fear,  Yadkin,  and  Savannah  (see  page  87),  it  would 
seem  a  fair  allowance,  if  we  assume  them  to  discharge  at  their  minimum  about  half  a  cubic  foot  per  second  per 
square  mile,  at  their  low-season  flow  0.65,  and  at  their  ordinary  flow  0.75  to  1  cubic  foot.  If  this  is  correct,  the  flow 
of  the  Big  and  Little  Pine  Tree  creeks  would  be  as  follows  : 


Table  of  estimated  flow  and  power  of  Big  and  Little  Pine  Tree  creelcs. 


Place  and  stream. 

Drainage 
area. 

Rainfall. 

Plow  per  second. 

Horse-power,  gross. 

Minimum. 

a 

o 

Average. 

a 

c 

.9 

i 

a 

o 

Spring. 

Summer 

\ 

Winter. 

Year. 

a 

6 

GO 

o 

Low  sea: 

Average 

Sq.  miles. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Oubiefeet. 

Oubiefeet. 

Oubiefeet. 

lfootfall. 

lfootfall. 

lfootfall. 

55 

f  28 

36 

55 

3.2 

4.1 

6.3 

Big  Pine  Tree  above  junction  of  Little  Pine  Tree  

43 

V 

14-15 

10 

13 

50 

i  22 

28 

43 

2.5 

i- 

4. 9 

Little  Pine  Tree  at  mouth  

12 

I  « 

8 

12 

0.7 

0.9 

1.4 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  these  powers  can  be  doubled  by  storing  the  water  during  the  night,  which  would 
be  doubtless  practicable. '  Neither  must  it  be  forgotten  that  the  maps  are  not  accurate,  and  the  drainage  areas  are 
subject  to  error.  The  above  estimates  were  made  independently,  by  comparison  with  other  streams.  It  may  be 
remarked,  however,  that  Mr.  J.  Millar  Williams,  the  owner  of  the  mill  below  the  mouth  of  Little  Pine  Tree  creek, 
and  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  gauged  the  stream  once,  and  found  that  the  whole  stream  would  afford  6.25 
horse-power  per  foot,  which  agrees  almost  exactly  with  my  estimate  in  the  last  column.  John  McRae,  esq.,  of 
Camden  (civil  engineer),  estimates  the  flow  of  the  stream  above  Little  Pine  Tree  creek  at  100  cubic  feet  per  second. 
At  the  time  I  saw  the  stream  (February,  1881)  it  was  discharging  a  little  more  than  two-thirds  of  this,  according  to 
a  rough  measurement.  The  two  sites  above  mentioned — above  the  mouth  of  Little  Pine  Tree — are  doubtless  worthy 
of  attention,  and  are  probably -the  best  sites  in  the  vicinity  of  Camden. 

Little  Pine  Tree  creek,  although  a  strong,  constant  stream,  like  the  Big  Pine  Tree,  is  much  smaller,  and  its 
available  power  is  not  of  very  much  value.  It  was  at  one  time  used  to  run  a  cotton  factory  using  20  feet  fall  and  30 
or  35  horse-power,  and  the  sa'me  site  is  now  used  by  a  grist-mill  (1  run)  and  2  cotton-gins,  using  16  to  17  feet  fall  and 
perhaps  20  horse-power.  The  pond  is  1  mile  long  and  400  feet  wide,  and  the  dam  of  earth  18  feet  high.  On  these 
streams  good  foundations  for  dams  can  always  be  had  on  the  impervious  stratum  forming  the  bed. 

The  other  tributaries  to  the  Wateree  furnish  also  good  powers  no  doubt,  but  regarding  them  no  detailed 
information  could  be  obtained.  Toward  the  upper  limit  of  the  sand-hill  belt  the  streams  become  very  variable  in 
their  flow,  and  are  notably  inferior  in  capacity  to  the  sand-hill  streams.  The  next  creek  worth  speaking  of  is  Rocky 
creek,  which  flows  for  its  whole  length  in  Chester  county.    Draining  an  area  of  about  185  sqifare  miles,  and  situated 


98 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


entirely  above  the  sand-hill  belt,  it  has  a  considerable  fall,  especially  in  the  lower  part,  where  it  passes  over  the 
same  rock  formation  which  gives  rise  to  the  Great  falls  on  the  Catawba,  and  where  there  are  several  flue  sites 
not  used.  There  are  several  grist-  and  saw-mills  on  the  stream,  but  none  of  much  importance,  and  they  are  sometimes 
obliged  to  stop  at  low  water.  In  the  table  on  page  101 1  have  given  my  estimate  of  the  available  power  per  foot 
fall  on  this  stream  at  its  mouth. 

Fishing  creek,  which  enters  the  Catawba  a  few  miles  further  up,  is  similar  in  many  respects  to  Rocky  creek.  It 
rises  about  the  center  of  York  county  and  flows  southeast  through  York  and  Chester,  draining  a  total  area  of 
about  223  square  miles.  It  is  utibzed  for  several  grist-  and  saw-mills,  and  at  present  two  cotton  factories  are  being 
built  on  it.  At  Cedar  shoals,  a  few  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  Captain  O.  Barber  is  erecting  a  mill,  to  be 
run  with  the  Clement  attachment,  and  to  use  a  fall  of  10  feet,  with  a  dam  of  the  same  height,  built  of  wood  and 
stone,  and  300  feet  long.  I  have  estimated  the  available  power  at  this  place  at  about  25  horse-power  at  its  minimum 
and  54  horse-power  at  low  seasons  in  dry  years.  Further  up  the  stream  Mr.  F.  Barber  is  putting  up  a  second 
factory,  to  use  29£  feet  fall.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  200  feet  long  and  6  feet  high,  and  the  race  is  750  feet 
in  length.  The  available  power  will  probably  not  exceed  75  horse-power  at  low  water  in  dry  years.  The 
grist-mills  on  this  stream  have  generally  two  pair  of  stones,  and  can  run  nearly  all  the  time.  Estimates  of  the 
flow  of  this  stream  will  be  found  in  the  table. 

There  are  no  other  tributaries  to  the  Catawba  worthy  of  special  mention  till  we  come  to  the  South  forks,  which 
enters  the  main  stream  just  at  the  state-line,  and  which  is  noted  for  its  water-power.  It  is  formed  near  the  center 
of  Catawba  county  by  the  union  of  two  forks,  Henry's  and  Jacob's  forks,  both  of  which  take  their  rise  among  the 
mountains  in  the  southern  part  of  Burke  county  and  flow  nearly  east  into  Catawba  county.  From  the  junction  of 
these  forks  the  river  pursues  a  course  a  little  east  of  south  through  Catawba,  Lincoln,  and  Gaston  counties, 
entering  the  Catawba  river  at  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  latter,  after  draining  a  total  area  of  about  730  square 
miles.  Its  tributaries,  with  the  exception  of  the  forks  above  mentioned,  are  all  small  streams,  not  worthy  of  special 
notice.  The  river  passes  within  a  mile  or  two  of  Lincolnton  and  within  3  or  4  miles  of  Newton,  the  county-seats  of 
Lincoln  and  Catawba  counties,  respectively,  and  the  most  important  towns  in  the  vicinity.  The  character  of  the 
drainage  area  and  of  the  stream,  differing  in  no  particular  respect  from  that  of  the  Catawba  river  in  its  course  in  North 
Carolina,  need  not  be  described  in  detail.  The  rainfall  is  about  51  or  52  inches,  distributed  as  follows:  spring,  12; 
summer,  14;  autumn,  10;  winter,  16. 

The  stream  has  a  rapid  fall  from  Lincolnton  down  to  its  mouth,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  table,  and  in 
fact  it  is  nothing  but  a  series  of  rapids  between  those  points,  with  few  bottoms  subject  to  overflow.  From 
Lincolnton  up  to  the  junction  of  Henry's  and  Jacob's  forks  it  is  flat,  with  no  large  powers,  and  with  considerable 
areas  subject  to  overflow.  . 

Table  of  declivity  on  the  South  fork  of  the  Catawba. 


Locality. 

Distance  from 
mouth. 

Elevation  above 
tide. 

Distance  be- 
tween points. 

Difference  of 
level  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Milet. 

8 

25 
31 

Feet. 

610 
704 
749 

Miles. 

}    ...  17 
}    -    -    -  6 

Feet. 

-   .--  94 

 45 

Feet  per  mile. 

There  are  no  reliable  records  of  gaugings  of  the  river.  The  stream  is  subject  to  heavy  freshets,  which  overflow 
the  banks  in  places,  but  the  fall  is  so  rapid  below  Lincolnton  that  the  rise  is  not  extreme  in  that  portion  of  its 
course.  The  bed  is  uniformly  rock  at  the  shoals,  overlaid  between  by  gravel,  clay,  and  sand.  The  stream  is 
easily  accessible  from  three  railroads,  as  the  map  shows.  The  Chester  and  Lenoir  narrow-gauge  road,  now  in 
course  of  construction,  will  do  much  toward  opening  up  the  resources  of  the  region  along  this  stream,  as  well  as  on 
the  Catawba  and  the  Yadkin. 

The  powers  on  this  stream  are  as  follows,  in  their  order,  ascending: 

1.  Stowesville  cotton  factory  (T.  A.  Gaither,  Charlotte),  3  miles  from  Garibaldi,  a  station  on  the  Atlanta  and 
Charlotte  Air-line  railroad.  The  dam  is  of  crib- work,  extending  in  a  broken  line  across  the  stream  between  islands, 
its  total  length  being  about  800  feet,  and  its  height  4  feet.  It  was  built  in  1858,  and  cost  $1,000.  It  backs  the  water 
half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile  with  a  width  of  150  to  200  feet,  the  natural  width  of  the  stream.  A  race  500  to  600 
feet  long  gives  a  fall  at  the  wheel  of  11  to  12  feet,  the  power  used  being  perhaps  25  to  30  horse-power  for  the 
factory.  Near  the  latter  is  a  grist-mill,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  a  saw-mill  and  cotton-gin,  the  total 
power  used  being  perhaps  70  to  80  horse-power.  The  factory  is  run  night  and  day,  and  there  is  always  waste  of 
water.   My  estimate  of  the  power  available  at  this  place  will  be  found  in  the  table. 

•  2.  Spring  shoals  (E.  Y.  McAden,  Charlotte),  1£  miles  from  Lowell,  on  the  Charlotte  and  Atlanta  Air-line 
railroad,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Duhart's  creek.  This  is  one  of  the  best  sites  on  the  river,  and  is  now  being 
improved  by  Mr.  Mctlden,  who  is  putting  up  a  cotton  factory  there.   The  fall  of  the  shoal  is  about  24  feet  in  all, 

758 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


99 


and  in  less  than  half  a  mile  there  is  said  to  be  nearly  30  feet  fall  over  a  ledge  of  solid  rock,  with  rock  banks,  very 
favorable  for  building  on  one  side.  The  dam  extends  diagonally  across  the  stream,  and  is  of  timber  bolted  to  the 
rock,  the  new  dam  having  been  built  in  1S31,  at  a  cost  of  81,200.  It  is  000  feet  long  and  only  2i  feet  high,  backing  the 
water  three-fourths  of  a  mile.  A  race  350  feet  long,  50  feet  wide,  and  0  feet  deep  leads  to  the  factory,  where  the  fall 
is  23  feet.  It  is  intended  to  use  200  horse-power,  which  it  is  expected  to  get  at  all  times.  The  table  gives  my  estimate 
of  the  power  available.  This  shoal  is  in  the  middle  of  the  cotton-belt,  with  good  building-stone  (gneiss)  near  by, 
an  abundance  of  timber,  and  in  a  very  healthy  country. 

3.  The  Massey  shoal,  an  unimproved  site,  a  mile  above  Spring  shoal,  with  a  Fall  of  about  4  or  5  feet  in  a  distance 
of  1,000  feet.    This,  with  the  two  succeeding  powers,  belong  together,  as  will  be  noticed  below. 

4.  Mill  of  the  Lawrence  Manufacturing  Company,  a  cotton  factory  (5,000  spindles),  using  a  fall  of  8  feet  and 
about  60  horse-power.  The  dam  is  of  wood,  600  feet  long,  5  feet  high,  extending  diagonally  across  the  river,  and  ponds 
the  water  about  a  third  of  a  mile,  to  the  next  dam  above.  It  was  built  in  1877,  and  cost  81,750.  The  race  is  about 
400  feet  long.    Water  always  wastes.    Opposite  it  stood  once  an  old  mill,  now  almost  all  washed  away. 

5.  Mills  of  the  Woodlawn  Manufacturing  Company,  a  cotton  factory  (2,500  spindles  and  50  looms),  cotton-gin, 
grist-  and  saw-mill,  with  a  fall  used  of  S  or  9  feet,  and  in  all  100  horse-power.  The  dam  is  of  logs,  600  feet  long,  5 
feet  high  (on  both  sides  of  an  island),  and  backs  the  water  3  miles.  It  was  built  in  1852.  Full  capacity  can  always 
be  secured,  and  water  always  wastes.   Both  factories  are  run  23  hours  out  of  the  24. 

The  three  powers  last  mentioned  belong  to  the  Woodlawn  and  Lawrence  Manufacturing  Companies  and  ihe 
Lawrence  Water-Power  Company,  of  Lowell,  Gaston  county,  Xorth  Carolina,  of  all  of  which  C.  J.  Lineberger  is 
president,  and  they  really  form  one  continued  shoal,  with  a  gradual  fall  over  a  gravel  bottom  of  26  feet  in  a  distance 
of  a  little  over  a  mile,  from  the  Woodlawn  dam  to  the  foot  of  the  Massey  shoal.  The  site  is  not  far  from  Lowell, 
which  is  16  miles  southwest  of  Charlotte,  on  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-liue  railroad.  The  fall  from  the 
Woodlawn  pond  to  the  tail-race  of  the  Lawrence  mill  is  16.9  feet,  and  to  the  foot  of  the  Massey  shoal  25.9  feet, 
according  to  a  recent  survey,  the  results  of  which  were  furnished  by  Mr.  X.  Dumont,  the  manager  of  the  companies. 
It  is  proposed  to  utilize  some  of  the  surplus  power  at  this  place,  if  possible,  and  the  company  promises  liberal 
inducements  to  capitalists.  My  estimate  of  the  available  power  (which,  by  the  way,  is  considerably  smaller  than 
that  of  the  company)  will  be  found  in  the  table. 

6.  Island  Creek  cotton-mills  (J.  H.  Wilson,  jr.,  Gastonia),  3  miles  further  up,  and  just  below  the  mouth  of  Long- 
creek,  a  considerable  tributary,  using  a  fall  of  14  feet  and  75  horse-power.*  The  dam  is  a  wooden-frame  dam,  600 
feet  by  4  feet,  built  in  1874,  from  which  a  race  190  feet  long  leads  to  the  wheel.  The  mill  is  run  14  hours  out  of  the 
24,  and  there  is  always  a  surplus  of  water.  The  fall  here  might  be  increased,  it  is  said,  the  available  fall  being  stated 
at  16  to  18  feet,  and  even  more.  There  is  considerable  fall  below  the  mill,  which  is  therefore  never  troubled  with 
high  water. 

7.  The  next  is  an  unimproved  site  with  about  4  feet  fall,  where  there  was  formerly  a  mill. 

8.  Friday  shoals,  not  improved — a  rock  shoal,  said  to  have  10  feet  fall  and  to  be  a  good  power.  It  is  below 
the  mouth  of  Kettle  Shoal  creek,  and  1  mile  from  the  Chester  and  Lenoir  railroad. 

9.  The  next  power  is  High  shoals,  one  of  the  best  powers  on  the  stream.  It  is  situated  between  the  mouths 
•of  Kettle  Shoal  creek  and  Hynes  creek,  7  miles  from  Lincolnton  and  1  mile  from  the  Chester  and  Lenoir  railroad, 
which  crosses  the  river  just  below  it.  The  stream  here  flows  over  a  ledge  of  solid  gneiss-rock,  the  fall  being  about 
22  feet  in  300;  but  the  fall  continues  below  for  some  distance,  amounting  to  27  feet  in  600,  and  probably  35  feet  in 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  a  little  over.  The  banks  are  quite  abrupt  on  both  sides,  but  there  is  still  abundance  of  room 
for  building,  the  best  location  being  on  the  left  bank.  The  whole  flow  of  the  stream  can  easily  be  controlled,  the 
facilities  being  in  all  respects  most  excellent.  The  width  of  the  stream  is  300  feet  above  the  fall,  and  probably 
greater  below,  the  channel  being  cut  up  with  islands  and  rocks.  Just  below  the  principal  fall  a  small  creek  enters 
the  river  from  the  left,  which  could  be  utilized  well  as  a  tail-race  if  the  mills  were  situated  on  the  hill  by  which  it 
flows.  This  power  was  used  till  about  ten  years  ago  to  drive  iron  works — rolling-mill,  nail-factory,  and  others — 
together  with  a  grist-  and  a  saw-mill,  situated  on  the  left  bank,  and  using  together  ISO. horse-power.  Xow  it  is  used 
by  a  small  grist-  and  saw-mill,  with  a  rough  wing-dam  at  the  head  of  the  falls,  and  using  a  fall  of  about  20  feet.  The 
ruins  of  the  old  iron  works  are  still  to  be  seen,  and  it  is  evident  that  they  utilized  a  fall  of  between  22  and  27  feet. 
In  the  table  I  have  given  the  drainage  area  above  this  place  and  the  estimated  available  power.  In  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  this  place  are  some  of  the  most  noted  deposits  of  iron  ore  in  the  state,  and  the  place  is 
especially  adapted  for  the  iron  manufacturer.  The  Chester  and  Lenoir  railroad  will  afford  the  best  facilities  for 
transportation. 

10.  Paper-mill  (W.  &  E.  Tiddy,  Charlotte),  called  Long  Shoal  mills,  situated  below  the  mouth  of  Indian  creek, 
and  within  a  few  miles  of  Lincolnton.  The  banks  are  favorable  for  building  on  the  left,  where  the  mill  is  situated. 
The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  about  1,200  feet  long  and  8  feet  high,  with  a  pond  of  30  acres  and  a  head-race  of 
300  feet.  The  fall  used  is  11  feet,  and  the  power  150  horse-power,  which  can  only  be  obtained  nine  months  of  the 
year,  the  average  for  the  remaining  three  being  about  112  horse-power.  In  dry  weather  there  is  no  waste  at  all,  the 
mill  running  24  hours. 

 .  9  

*  In  statistics  by  special  agent  on  cotton-mills,  fall  stated  as  25  feet  and  40  horse-power. 

759 


100 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


11.  Mosteller's  shoals,  unimproved,  about  half  a  mile  above  this,  have  a  fall  of  7  feet  or  so  over  a  rock  bottom. 

12.  Paper-mill  (W.  &  E.  Tiddy,  Charlotte),  1  miles  from  Lincolnton.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  276- 
feet  long  and  8  feet  high,  with  a  head-race  of  100  feet,  the  fall  used  being  10  feet,  and  the  pow'er  120  horse-power,, 
which  can  always  be  obtained,  but  with  no  waste  in  summer.    The  mill  is  run  24  hours.  * 

13.  Half  a  mile  above  the  last  mill  is  the  site  of  the  old  Lincoln  factory,  with  a  fall  of  about  8  feet  and  good 
building  facilities.  It  is  now  utilized  to  drive  a  chair  factory.  A  log  dam,  560  feet  long  and  4£  feet  high  (built  iu 
1875  at  a  cost  of  $1,000),  turns  the  water  into  a  race  300  feet  long.  The  fall  used  is  8  feet,  and  the  power  50  horse- 
power, the  mill  running  10  to  15  hours  out  of  24,  and  the  water  being  partially  stored  during  the  night  in  very  dry 
weather.  This  power  (as  well  as  No.  12,  probably)  is  above  the  mouth  of  Indian  creek,  but  below  that  of  Sand 
branch. 

14.  The  next  power  is  the  cotton  factory  of  Phifer  &  Allison,  using  a  fall  of  6J  feet  and  about  50  horse- 
power, which  can  be  obtained  all  the  time.  Above  it  is  a  saw-mill,  grist-mill,  and  cotton-gin,  using  4£  feet  fall  and 
30  horse-power,  subject  to  stoppage  by  backwater,  and  farther  up  are  small  grist-mills  and  saw-mills,  which  it  is 
not  necessary  to  refer  to. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  south  fork  of  the  Catawba  is  an  excellent  stream  for  power,  a  large  amount  of  which 
is  already  utilized.  The  climate  in  the  vicinity  is  salubrious,  the  agricultural  and  mineral  resources  of  the  country 
very  large,  and  the  facilities  for  manufacturing  in  all  respects  hardly  to  be  excelled. 


Summary  of  power  (estimated)  on  the  south  fork  of  the  Catawba. 

[Powers  are  for  natural  flow,  without  drawing  down  water  at  night  in  pond.] 


Locality. 


Stowesville  cotton  factory,  etc . . 

Spring  shoal  

Haasey  shoal  

Lawrence  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. 

Woodlawn  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. 

Island  Creek  mills  

Unimproved  site  »  

Friday  shoal  

High  »hoal  

W.  Si,  R.  Tiddy's  paper-mill  


Moateller's  shoal  

W.  &R.  Tiddy's  upper  mill. 


"Old  Lincoln  factory  " 
Phifer's  cotton  factory. 


Miles. 


13  ± 


20  ± 
22  ± 


Sg.  ma. 
720 
688 
675 
675 

675 

640 
600  + 
550 
518 
493 


450A 
430 

400+ 


325     I  12 


Rainfall. 


Total  fall. 


w 


Feet. 
12.0 
24.0 

>25.9 


18.  0+ 
4.0 
10.0 
27.0 
11.0 


7.0 
10.0 


8.0 
6.5 


Feet. 


500  + 


5,000: 


600 


Horse-power  available, 
gross.*  . 


180 
350 


a  s 
■a" 


240 
450 


375  480 


240 
50 
100 
280 
100 


320 
70 
150 
380 
140 


85 
115 


a 1 

It 


875 
1, 700 

1, 800 


1,200 
240 
560 

1,400 
550 


325 
450 


325 
200 


280 
500 


550 


375 
75 
175 
450 
150 


100 
130 


00 


Utilized. 


70-80 

200 

0 

60 
100 

75t 
0 
0 

25 
150 


0 

120 


Feet. 
11-12 

23.0 
0.0 

8.0 

8.0 

14.  Ot 
0.0 
0.  0 
20.0 
11.0 


0.0 
10.0 


8.0 
6.5 


ST3 


00 


42 
0 
0 

21 
200 


0 
192 


118 
183 


Remarks. 


Solid  rock. 


Rock. 

112  horse-power,  thre# 
months ;  mill  runs  24 
hours. 

Rock.  . 

No  waste  in  summer, 

24  hours  run. 
Mill  run  12  hours.  No 

waste  in  dry  weather. 


'  See  pages  18  to  21. 


t  See  description. 


Dutchman's  creek  enters  the  Catawba  just  above  the  crossing  of  the  Carolina  Central  railroad,  and  is  the  next 
tributary  worth  mentioning  above  the  South  fork.  It  rises  in  Lincoln  county  and  flows  nearly  south,  and  is  a  small 
stream,  with  only  one  power  worth  referring  to,  viz,  Ehyne's  cotton  factory,  close  to  the  mouth,  where  a  fall  of  8  feet  is 
used,  50  horse-power  being  obtained  for  nine  month's  and  35  for  the  rest  of  the  time,  a  steam-engine  being  used  during 
that  time;  no  water  waste  in  dry  summers,  the  mill  being  run  all  the  time.  There  is  some  trouble  with  high  water, 
the  stream  being  subject  to  heavy  freshets,  and  there  not  being  many  low  grounds  subject  to  overflow.  The  stream 
drains  an  area  of  about  88  square  miles.  Above  Rhyne's  factory  are  only  saw-  and  grist-mills,  the  latter  generally 
with  two  pair  of  stones.  There  are  some  sites  not  occupied  where  there  have  formerly  been  mills.  The  dams  are 
all  wood,  founded  on  rock,  and  sometimes  bolted  down.  The  stream  averages  100  feet  in  width  for  some  distance 
from  its  mouth.    On  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  stream  a  small  amount  of  power  is  used  for  an  iron-furnace. 

There  are  no  important  tributaries  to  the  Catawba  in  Mecklenburg,  Catawba,  and  Iredell  counties,  the  small 
streams  which  join  the  river  being  only  capable  of  running  small  grist-mills  with  one  or  two  pair  of  stones,  for  which 
purpose  they  are  in  some  cases  used.  The  tributaries  from  the  north  are  more  important.  The  three  Little  rivers — 
Upper,  Middle,  and  L^wer — have  considerable  fall,  but  are  very  small  streams,  draining,  respectively,  31,  31,  and  53- 

760 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER- SHED.  101 

■  v 

square  miles.  On  Lower  Little  river  there  are  several  grist-mills  and  one  cotton  factory  near  Taylorsville,  with  a  fall 
of  12  feet  and  a  small  amount  of  power,  and  the  other  two  are  utilized  by  grist-  and  saw-mills.  These  streams  can 
probably  hardly  be  depended  on  for  one  horse-power  per  foot  fall  in  dry  seasons  at  their  mouths.  The  tributaries  in 
Caldwell  and  Burke  counties  are  of  more  importance.  Gunpowder  creek,  from  the  north,  drains  an  area  of  about  31 
square  miles,  and  is  about  like  the  Little  rivers.  Lower  creek,  from  the  same  side,  drains  117  square  miles,  but  is  said 
to  have  little  powerv  John's  river,  also  from  the  north,  drains  120  square  miles,  but  is  not  used  except  for  one  mill, 
although  it  has  considerable  fall.  Upper  creek  (north  side)  drains  45  square  miles,  and  has  a  cascade  about  18  miles 
from  Morganton,  but  of  no  value  for  power.  Linville  river  (north  side)  drains  61  square  miles,  flowing  through  a 
very  narrow  valley,  and  has  a  cascade  about  28  miles  from  Morganton,  but  which,  like  that  of  Upper  creek, 
is  of  no  value  for  power.  It  has  one  mill  near  the  mouth.  The  tributaries  from  the  south  are  more  sluggish,  but 
on  Hunting  creek  there  is  a  grist-mill.    Silver  creek  is  very  sluggish. 

In  McDowell  county  the  character  of  the  streams  is  the  same.  Those  which  rise  in  the  mountains  are  small, 
and  are  subject  to  considerable  fluctuations  in  volume,  but  have  a  very  large  fall.  Major  Wilson,  for  example,  has  a 
mill  on  Mill  creek  with  a  fall  of  46  feet,  and  he  calculates  that  the  power  is  75  horse-power  at  all  times.  There  are 
many  other  similar  sites  in  the  mountains.  North  Cove  creek,  which  drains  about  83  square  miles,  is  said  to  be  a 
good  stream,  and  it  has  one  good  shoal  not  far  from  its  mouth,  where  there  were  formerly  iron  "works.  All  these 
streams  are,  in  fact,  a  succession  of  shoals,  but  the  powers  are  all  small,  and  many  are  very  inaccessible.  That  they 
have  a  rapid  fall  will  be  seen  from  the  fact  that  the  elevation  of  the  gap  at  the  head  of  Linville  river  is  4,100  feet, 
and  that  of  the  gap  at  the  head  of  the  North  Catawba  3,407  feet. 

Before  leaving  the  Catawba  river  it  must  be  remarked  that  few  rivers  present  so  many  fine  powers  and  so  many 
advantages  of  all  kinds  for  manufacturing.  The  stream  seems  destined,  with  the  great  interest  now  being  taken 
in  manufactures  in  the  South,  to  become  a  great  manufacturing  river. 

Table  of  flow  and  power  (estimated)  on  the  tributaries  to  the  Wateree  and  Catawba  rivers. 


Name  of  stream. 


Rainfall. 


Plow  per  second.' 


Horse-power  available,  gross. 


S3 


II 


Big  Pine  Tree  creek  . . . 
Little  Pine  Tree  creek 

Rocky  creek  

Pishing  creek  

South  fork,  at  mouth . . . 

Dutchman's  creek  

Sugar  creek  

Lower  Little  river  

Middle  Little  river  

Upper  Little  river  

Gunpowder  creek  , 

Lower  creek  

John's  river  

Upper  creek  

Linville  river  

Mill  creek  , 

North  Cove  creek  


Sq.  me. 
55 
12 
185 
223 
730 
88 
380 
53 
31 
31 
31 
117 
119 
45 
61 
24 
83 


Cu./t. 

18 
25 
130 
10 
50 


Cu.ft. 


25 
40 
175 
15 
60 


Cu./t. 


160 
200 
650 
75 
330 


Cu.ft.  I  ft.  fall. 


30 
50 
200 
20 
70 


2.0 
2.8 
14.7 
1. 1 
5.6 


I  ft.  fall. 


3.0 
4.5 
19.8 
1.7 


lft.faU. 


18.2 

22.8 
73.8 
8.6 
37.5 


lft.  fall. 


3.4 
5.8 
22.7 
2.3 
8.0 


Plow  in  dry  seasons  only  sufficient  to  run  small  mills  with  the  falls  in  use :  varies  from 
one-tenth  to  one-fifth  of  a  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  in  dry  seasons. 


'  See  pages  18  to  21. 


t  See  page  97. 


THE  CONGABEE  BIVEE. 

The  Congaree  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Broad  and  the  Saluda  rivers  between  Lexington  and  Bichland 
counties,  South  Carolina,  whence  it  flows  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction,  forming  the  boundary  between 
Bichland  county  and  the  adjacent  counties  of  Lexington  and  Orangeburgh,  uniting  with  the  Wateree  to  form  the 
Santee.  Its  course  is  quite  tortuous,  and  its  length,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  32  miles,  while  it  is  60  by 
the  course  of  the  river.  The  principal  town  on  the  stream  is  Columbia,  the  capital  of  the  state,  with  a  populatior 
of  about  10,000,  and  situated  just  below  the  junction  of  the  Broad  and  the  Saluda.  The  stream  is  navigable  up  to 
Granby,  between  2  and  3  miles  below  the  city,  and  its  course  lies  almost  entirely  through  the  sand-hill  belt,  which 
extends  up  to  Columbia,  at  which  place  the  river  crosses  the  fall-line,  giving  rise  to  the  only  power  on  the  stream, 
and  below  which  the  stream  i-esembles  the  Wateree  below  Camden,  or  the  Pee  Dee  below  Cheraw,  in  all  essential 
points.    The  swamp-lands  on  the  Congaree  are,  however,  more  extensive  than  on  the  Wateree,  and  from  Granby 

761 


* 


102  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

down  to  McOord's  ferry,  28  miles,  they  average  4  miles  in  width  and  cover  50,000  acres,  while  on  the  Wateree  they 
are  not  over  2  miles  wide.  The  rainfall  oh  the  drainage-basins  of  the  Broad  and  the  Saluda  is  about  51  inches, 
distributed  as  follows :  spring,  13;  summer,  13;  autumn,  9  to  10;  winter,  15  to  16.  The  elevation  of  the  river  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and  Augusta  railroad,  below  the  falls  at  Columbia,  is  129  feet  above  tide.  The 
total  drainage  area  of  the  stream  is  7,905  square  miles. 

It  only  remains  to  describe  the  power  at  Columbia.  About  sixty  years  ago,  the  state  of  South  Carolina  having 
appropriated  a  million  dollars  for  rivers  and  canals,  a  canal  was  built  on  the  north  side  around  these  falls  extending 
from  Granby  to  the  junction  of  the  Broad  and  the  Saluda  rivers,  at  the  upper  end  of  the  city  of  Columbia,  and 
subsequently  extended  for  more  than  two  miles  up  the  Broad  river,  the  object  being  to  secure  an  uninterrupted 
water  communication  from  that  stream,  which  was  navigable  for  bateaux,  to  the  sea,  the  original  dimensions  of 
the  canal  being  as  follows:  width  at  top,  15  feet;  at  bottom,  8  feet;  depth,  4  feet.  This  canal  was  gradually 
abandoned  as  railroads  were  introduced,  and  is  now  only  used  as  a  race  to  supply  a  small  amount  of  power  to  the 
city  water- works  and  to  the  state  penitentiary,  and  occasionally  navigated  by  bateaux  down  as  far  as  the  center  of  the 
city,  the  remainder  being  filled  up  and  overgrown  with  trees,  some  of  which  are  even  6  inches  in  diameter.  Until  30 
years  ago  it  was  much  used  by  pole-boats  and  "  match"  boats.  In  1868  the  canal,  with  all  its  appurtenances,  was 
sold  to  William  Sprague,  of  the  A.  &  W.  Sprague  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Providence,  Bhode  Island,  on  condition 
that  he  should  improve  it,  in  default  of  which  the  property  should  revert  to  the  state.  A  company  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Columbia  Water-Power  Company,  but  no  improvements  being  made  up  to  1878  for  various 
reasons,  among  which  was  the  failure  of  the  A.  &  W.  Sprague  Manufacturing  Company,  the  state  took  jjossession 
of  the  property,  agreeing  to  give  to  the  Water-Power  Company  500  horse-power  whenever  the  power  should  be 
developed.  The  state  proceeded  to  take  steps  toward  the  development  of  the  power,  and  a  survey  and  report  were 
made  by  Byron  Holly,  civil  engineer,  who  proposed  to  build  a  dam  on  the  Broad  river  at  the  head  of  the  canal, 
carrying  the  water  to  the  city  by  a  canal  150  feet  wide  at  the  top,  110  at  the  bottom,  and  10  feet  deep.  While  the 
matter  was  under  discussion  a  new  plan  was  proposed  by  Thompson  &  Nagle,  architects  and  mdl-engineers  of 
Providence,  Bhode  Island,  and  finally,  in  December,  1879,  a  bill  was  passed  by  the  legislature  and  a  charter  granted 
incorporating  the  Columbia  and  Lexington  Water-Power  Company,  the  state  granting  to  Thompson  &  JSfagle  various 
rights,  lands,  and  franchises,  including  the  exclusive  right  to  build  dams  on  either  the  Broad  or  the  Congaree  river, 
exemption  from  taxation  for  10  years  on  all  improvements,  and  the  free  use  of  250  able-bodied  convicts  for  3  years, 
together  with  other  privileges.  They  prepared  very  elaborate  plans  and  estimates  for  the  work,  and  issued  an 
elaborate  "  Prospectus  of  the  Columbia  and  Lexington  Water-Power  Company",  containing  all  the  available 
information  regarding  the  power,  history  of  the  canal,  maps  and  views  of  the  river,  and  details  of  the  proposed 
improvements,  all  prepared  at  great  cost.  They  have  permitted  me  to  make  free  use  of  this  prospectus  in  the 
preparation  of  this  report,  and  from  it  I  have  obtained  these  notes  regarding  the  history  of  the  power,  as  well  as 
what  follows  regarding  its  technical  features.  But  notwithstanding  these  elaborate  and  costly  preparations  the 
power  remains  undeveloped,  fine  as  it  is,  and  favorable  as  are  all  the  collateral  advantages. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  canal.  It  remains  to  present  its  technical  features.  Its  total  length  is  5J  miles, 
and  its  fall  36  feet.  Thompson  &  Nagle  proposed  two  plans  for  developing  power,  and  submitted  estimates  for  the 
same.  The  first  contemplated  the  construction  of  a  dam  across  the  Congaree  just  below  the  junction  of  the  Broad 
and  the  Saluda,  giving  a  fall  at  the  foot  of  Gervais  street  of  22  feet  at  mean  low  water,  and  by  carrying  the  canal 
11,160  feet  farther  down  an  average  fall  of  27£  feet  (the  fall  in  the  river  between  Gervais  street  and  Granby  being 
l3  feet),  in  addition  to  which  a  canal  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  was  projected.  The  dam  was  to  be  1,330  feet 
long  between  abutments,  the  bulkhead  200  feet  long,  and  the  total  length  of  canal  (on  the  Columbia  side)  3  miles. 
The  estimated  cost  of  the  whole  improvement  (not  including  the  canal  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  which  was 
not  intended  to  be  built  at  first),  including  a  mill  with  864  looms  and  26,112  spindles,  was  $1,699,848.  It  was 
considered  best,  however,  to  extend  the  canal  at  first  only  seven-eighths  of  a  mile  below  Gervais  street,  the  cost  for 
this  project  being  $1,555,764.  The  second  plan  proposed  the  erection  of  a  dam  across  the  Broad  river  alone  at  the 
head  of  the  navigation  canal,  the  canal  being  carried  to  a  point  seven-eighths  of  a  mile  below  Gervais  street.  The 
length  of  the  dam  would  be  650  feet  between  abutments,  the  bulkhead,  as  before,  200  feet  long,  the  canal  4  miles 
long,  and  the  fall  at  Gervais  street  34  feet  at  mean  low  water,  the  total  cost  of  this  plan  being  estimated  at 
$1,711,124.  Both  plans  proposed  a  canal  200  feet  wide.  If  in  the  last  plan,  however,  the  canal  be  assumed  to  be 
150  feet  wide,  the  estimated  cost  is  $1,594,124. 

The  river  opposite  Columbia  flows  over  a  bed  composed  of  ledges  of  rock,  overlaid  in  places  with  deposits  of 
sand  and  gravel.  The  stream  is  subject  to  heavy  freshets,  the  most  notable  ones  having  occurred  as  follows :  in 
May,  1840;  in  August,  1852;  in  1856  the  water  rose  25  feet  at  Columbia;  and  in  January,  1865,  it  rose  30  feet  at 
the  same  place. 

The  drainage  area  of  the  Broad  river  is  about  4,950  square  miles,  and  that  of  the  Saluda  2,350;  so  that  the  total 

drainage  area  of  the  Congaree  above  Columbia  is  about  7,300  square  miles.    The  rainfall  on  the  basin  of  the  Broad 

is  as  follows:  spring,  13;  summer,  13;  autumn,  10;  winter,  15;  total,  51  inches;  and  on  that  of  the  Saluda  as 

follows:  spring,  13;  summer,  13;  autumn,  9;*winter,  16  inches.    In  regard  to  the  flow  of  these  streams  I  have  no 
762  $ 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  103 

accurate  data;  but  it  has  been  estimated  by  other  engineers,  and  in  regard  to  these  estimates  I  feel  constrained  to 
say  a  few  words,  as  well  as  to  make  a  few  general  remarks  on  the  subject  of  estimates  of  flow.  In  making  my  own 
estimates,  hitherto  given,  I  have  proceeded  according  to  principles  which  have  been  fully  explained  on  pages  10  to 
21.  I  have  repeatedly  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  they  are  only  to  be  regarded  as  rough  approximations,  and 
I  believe  them  myself  to  be  rather  under  than  over  the  mark.  Without  a  single  series  of  gaugings  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  with  few  extended  observations  of  rainfall,  and  with  by  no  means  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  country, 
it  is  impossible  to  present  anything  very  accurate.  Before  presenting  my  estimates  for  the  Broad  and  the  Saluda 
rivers  I  desire,  therefore,  to  show  briefly  by  what  considerations  I  am  led  to  them,  principally  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  my  estimates  are  very  much  lower  than  those  which  have  been  heretofore  made.  For  this  purpose  I  select 
a  few  typical  streams  for  comparison  and  present  in  tabular  form  the  various  facts  which  are  to  be  taken  into 
consideration  (page  104).  From  this  table  it  will  be  clear  that  in  estimating  the  minimum  flow  of  the  Broad  and 
the  Saluda  the  Merrimac  and  the  Connecticut  cannot  serve  as  guides,  on  account  of  their  large  flow,  probably 
due  to  the  lakes  and  artificial  reservoirs  in  their  basins.  It  is  further  clear  that  from  the  size  of  the  drainage  area, 
when  it  exceeds  about  1,000  square  miles,  no  sure  conclusion  can  be  reached,  for  the  Potomac,  with  the  largest 
drainage  area,  has  the  smallest  flow.  It  is  difficult  to  explain  the  small  flow  of  this  river,  considering  the  large 
area  drained,  although  it  may  be  due  to  the  topography  of  the  country  and  to  the  way  in  which  the  rainfall  is 
distributed  through  the  year,  as  will  be  shown  when  that  river  is  considered;  but  whether  the  low  flow  is  to  be 
ascribed  principally  to  these  causes  it  is  impossible  to  say.  Comparing  all  these  points,  it  would  seem  reasonable 
to  take  the  minimum  flow  of  the  Broad  and  Saluda  at  0.20  to  0.25  cubic  feet  per  second  per  square  mile.  I  have  taken 
0.23  for  the  Broad  and  0.21  for  the  Saluda.  As  regards  the  minimum  low-season  flow,  the  rainfall  being  51  inches, 
perhaps  14  or  15  inches  may  be  considered  as  flowing  oft"  in  a  dry  year  (nearly  0.7  x  0.40  x  51),  or  1.3  inches  per 
month,  equal  to  1.15  cubic  feet  per  second  per  square  mile,  for  which  we  take  1.10.  It  remains  to  determine  the 
proportion  of  this  flow  in  the  driest  month.  Compared  with  the  Merrimac  and  Connecticut,  the  flow  of  the 
Schuylkill  appears  very  large,  considering  that  it  has  no  lakes.  On  these  water-sheds  more  rain  falls  in  summer 
than  in  winter,  while  on  the  Broad  and  Saluda  the  opposite  is  the  case.  There  being  no  lakes  to  regulate  the 
flow,  these  last  streams  will  therefore  get  proportionately  lower  in  summer,  so  that  under  these  circumstances  0.27 
to  0.30  does  not  seem  too  small  a  fraction  for  the  driest  month.  We  take  0.28,  giving  0.30  cubic  feet  per  second  per 
square  mile  for  both  streams.  For  dry  years,  but  not  the  driest,  we  take  0.35.  Finally,  as  regards  the  maximum 
with  storage,  it  is  clear  that  the  figures  for  the  Merrimac  and  Connecticut  cannot  be  applied  to  the  Broad  and 
Saluda  on  account  of  the  influence  of  the  lakes  on  the  former  streams.  On  the  other  hand,  the  climatic  and  other 
conditions  in  the  Schuylkill  basin  seem  quite  similar  to  those  of  the  latter  streams,  except  that  the  rainfall  in  the 
former  basin  is  greatest  in  summer  (when  the  evaporation  is  greatest),  while  in  the  latter  it  is  greatest  in  winter 
(when  the  evaporation  is  probably  least).  From  this  it  seems  legitimate  to  conclude  that  a  larger  proportion  of 
the  rainfall  would  be  available  in  the  latter  case  (supposing  the  conditions  of  evaporation  to  be  the  same  in  both 
cases);  but,  on  account  of  the  larger  drainage  area  of  the  latter  streams,  and  the  fact  that  storage  is  only 
practicable  in  their  upper  parts  without  overflowing  fertile  bottom-lands  (counted  as  the  best  farming-lands  in  the 
state),  and  that  consequently  the  stored  water  would  have  a  considerable  distance  to  pass  over  before  reaching 
Columbia  (losing  thereby  considerably  in  volume  by  evaporation),  it  would  seem  safe  to  take  the  proportion  of  the 
rainfall  available  in  the  latter  case  as  the  same  or  even  a  little  smaller  than  in  the  case  of  the  Schuylkill.  I  take 
22  per  cent.,  or  about  12  inches,  as  available. 

Such  are  the  considerations  on  which  the  estimates  are  founded.  In  fact,  8,000  cubic  feet  per  second,  which 
has  sometimes  been  taken  as  the  low-season  flow  of  the  Broad  river,  would  be  nearly  the  average  flow  of  the 
stream,  supposing  half  the  mean  annual  rainfall  on  the  drainage-basin  to  be  discharged,  a  quantity  which  it  would 
be  impossible  to  utilize.   The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  the  calculations : 


Table  of  power  of  Congaree  river  at  Columbia. 


State  of  flow  (see  pp.  18  to  21). 

Drainage  area. 

Flow  per  second. 

Horse-power,  gross. 

Horse-power  avail- 
able, gross. 

Broad. 

Saluda. 

Both. 

Broad. 

Saluda. 

Both. 

Broad. 

Saluda. 

Both. 

Broad. 

Congaree. 

Sq.miles. 

Sq.  miles. 

Sg.  miles. 

Cubicfeet. 

Cubicfeet. 

Cubicfeet. 

1  foot  fall. 

1  foot/all. 

1  footfall. 

Sifeetfall. 

22  feet  fall. 

1 

(  i.  wo 

500 

1,680 

130 

57 

191 

4, 400 

4,  200 

Minimum  low  season  

j    1, 480 

700 

2, 200 

168 

80 

250 

5,700 

5,500 

Maximum,  with  storage  

|    4,  950 

2, 350 

7,  300 

1    4, 200 

2, 000 

6,200 

477 

227 

705 

16,  000 

15,  500 

Low  season,  dry  years  

{    1, 730 

825 

2,550 

197 

93 

290 

6,700 

6,  400 

Nevertheless  it  is  evident  that  the  power  at  Columbia  is  very  fine,  with  every  collateral  advantage.  There  is 
an  abundauce  of  room  for  buildings,  with  safe  locations;  railroad  communication  in  four  different  directions;  fine 
building-stone  (granite  of  excellent  quality)  within  the  city  and  for  several  miles  up  and  down  the  river,  and  a  fine 
brick  clay  along  the  canal.    Of  the  large  power  available  only  about  75  horse-power  is  used,  there  being  one  small 


104 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


grist-mill,  with  a  wing-dam  and  3  to  4  feet  fall,  situated  on  the  river,  and  on  the  canal  the  city  water-works,  using 
about  12  feet  fall  and  40  to  50  horse-power,  and  a  small  amount  of  power  being  also  used  from  the  canal  at  the  city- 
penitentiary  to  run  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  and  for  hoisting  rock  from  a  quarry,  the  fall  being  18  feet.  At  the  head 
of  the  canal  is  a  rough  wooden  wing-dam  extending  across  to  an  island. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  magnificent  power  may  soon  be  developed,  and  the  hopes  of  the  city  of  Columbia,  so 
long  deferred,  at  last  consummated. 

Comparative  table  of  drainage  areas  of  various  streams. 


Nam©  of  stream. 


Drainage 
area. 


Rainfall. 


« 0  a 

a  o  h 

£  O  <D 

2  &  t* 

a  ?  s 


2a£a 


3-5  £ 
S.S  2 

(S.O  >v 


o  f-vS  >» 

■6  3  5>3 

§  5  3  & 

.  n  >  « 

§  I  5  t» 


Remarks. 


Merrimac . . . 
Connecticut 
Schuylkill . . . 
Passaic  


Delaware . 
Potomac . . 


James 
Neuse 

Broad.. 


Saluda . 


Sq.  miles. 
4, 136 
10,  234 
1,800 
981 

6,500  + 
11, 476 

6,800 
1,000 

4,950 


2,350 


15 


16 


51 


Cubic  feet. 
0.  53 
0.  51 
0.21 
0. 23 

0.  30 
0.09 

0.19 
*0. 16 

*0.23 


0.  38 
0.41 
0.  38 


Inches. 
21. 13 
19.16 
9  to  12 


48.0 
13.5 
20.  5  to  27.  3 


*0.21 


'0.28 


+0.28 


12.  00 


*12.  00 


*22.0 


-22.0 


Plow  regulated  by  large  lakes.  Well  wooded. 
Many  lakes  in  drainage-basin.    Quite  well  wooded. 
No  lakes.    Tolerably  well  wooded. 
Several  lakes  of  considerable  size.   Not  very  thickly 
wooded. 

Many  small  lakes  and  ponds  in  basin.  Very  well  wooded. 
No  lakes.   Narrow  valleys.    Considerable  limestone 
formation. 

No  lakes.  Valleys  narrow  in  mountains.  Well  wooded. 
No  lakes.    Soil  much  deeper  than  in  rivers  above. 

Very  well  wooded. 
No  lakes.   Deep  soil.    Well  wooded.   Mountains  not 

baid,  but  covered  with  soil.   Evaporation  probably 

smaller  than  on  J ames. 
No  lakes.    Deep   soil.    Well   wooded.  Mountains- 

covered  with  soil.   Evaporation  probably  less  than 

on  James. 


*  Estimated. 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  CONGAREE  RIVER. 

The  Oongaree  river  has  no  very  important  tributaries,  only  one  of  them,  Congaree  creek,  being  worthy  of 
mention.  Like  the  other  and  smaller  streams  flowing  into  the  river,  it  is  a  sand-hill  stream,  and  is  only  about 
15  miles  long,  flowing  for  its  entire  length  in  Lexington  county,  and  joining  the  river  about  3  miles  below  the 
Columbia  bridge.  It  is  not  a  rapid  stream,  and  flows  for  a  considerable  part  of  its  course  through  swamps,  over  a 
sandy  bed,  and  it  is  only  on  the  upper  half  of  its  course  that  it  offers  any  facilities  for  power.  There  are  two  sites 
now  not  improved,  but  formerly  used  for  saw-mills,  with  brush-dams  and  races  about  a  mile  and  a  half  long,  the 
falls  being  about  5  to  8  feet.  The  stream  drains  an  area  of  about  115  miles,  according  to  the  map  I  have  used.  If 
we  take  its  flow,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Pine  Tree  creeks  (see  p.  101),  at  a  half  to  one  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square 
mile,  it  will  afford  at  its  mouth  a  power  of  6.6  and  13.2  horse-power  per  foot  fall,  without  storage  during  the  night. 
The  sites  above  named  are  5  or  6  miles  from  Columbia,  and  1  to  3  miles  from  the  Charlotte,  Oolumbia,  and  Augusta 
railroad.  The  owner,  Mr.  John  Taylor,  of  Columbia,  states  that  an  engineer's  survey  found  the  flow  to  be  500  to 
800  cubic  feet  per  second,  or  625  on  the  average — an  evident  impossibility,  provided  the  drainage  area  above  stated 
is  correct,  or  it  would  correspond  to  an  annual  rainfall  of  72  inches,  all  of  which  flowed  off  by  the  stream. 

Eed  Bank  creek,  a  tributary  of  Congaree  creek,  is  another  sand-hill  stream,  and  on  it  is  the  Eed  Bank  cotton 
factory,  with  a  fall  of  12  feet,  and  using  40  horse-power  for  nine  months  of  the  year  and  about  30  for  the  rest  of 
the  time,  the  water  being  drawn  down  in  the  pond  at  night,  so  that  the  natural  flow  of  the  stream  in  dry  weather 
does  not  afford  over  1  horse-power  per  foot  fall.  There  are  also  two  saw-mills  on  the  stream.  All  the  dams  are  of 
dirt,  that  of  the  factory  being  25  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  12  at  the  top,  and  8  high.  It  may  be  mentioned  as  an 
interesting  fact  that  wood  can  be  obtained  in  this  neighborhood  at  75  cents  a  cord. 

On  some  of  the  other  sand-hill  streams  in  the  vicinity,  such  as  Berry  creek,  power  can  be  obtained  to  a  small 
extent. 

THE  BEOAD  EIVER. 

This  stream  takes  it  rise  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Eidge  near  Hickory-Nut  gap,  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  McDowell  county  and  the  northeastern  part  of  Henderson  county,  North  Carolina,  and  after  flowing  in  a 
general  southeasterly  direction  through  Eutherford  county  and  a  corner  of  Cleveland  county,  North  Carolina,  and  in 
South  Carolina  between  the  counties  of  York,  Chester,  Fairfield,  and  Eichland  on  its  left,  and  Spartan  burgh,  Union, 
764  • 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  105 

Newberry,  and  Lexington  on  its  right,  it  unites  with  the  Saluda  river  jnst  above  Columbia  to  form  the  Congaree. 
The  length  from  source  to  mouth,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  128  miles,  but  following  the  course  of  the 
river  it  is  very  considerably  greater.  There  are  no  towns  of  any  importance  on  the  river.  The  stream  is  navigated 
to  a  certain  extent  by  bateaux  (carrying  30  to  40  bales  of  cotton,  and  drawing  20  inches  when  loaded  and  4  inches 
when  empty),  the  present  head  of  navigation  being  about  141  miles  above  Columbia  (by  the  river)  and  28  miles 
above  the  North  Carolina  line.  A  survey  was  made  of  the  river  by  the  government  in  1879-'80  for  the  purpose  of 
ascertaining  the  practicability  and.probable  cost  of  improving  the  navigation,  and  the  report  is  found  in  the  annual 
report  of  the  chief  of  engineers  for  1880,  p.  1010,  in  which  the  cost  of  rendering  the  river  navigable  for  pole-boats 
carrying  from  70  to  90  bales  of  cotton  is  estimated  at  $90,000. 

The  Broad  river  drains  a  total  area  of  about  4,950  square  miles,  of  which  3,550  are  in  South  Carolina  and  1,400 
in  North  Carolina.    The  river  receives  a  number  of  important  tributaries,  as  follows : 

From  the  west,  ascending  the  stream  :  Square  miles. 

Enoree  river,  draining  an  area  of   730 

Tiger  river,  draining  an  area  of  720 

Pacolett  river,  draining  an  area  of   475 

Thicketty  creek,  draining  an  area  of   100 

Green  river,  draining  ah  area  of  --  198 

From  the  east : 

Little  river,  draining  an  area  of   203 

Sandy  creek,  draining  an  area  of   63 

Bullock's  creek,  draining  an  area  of   73 

King's  creek,  draining  an  area  of   72 

Buffalo  creek,  draining  an  area  of   178 

First  Broad  river,  draining  an  area  of   302 

Second  Broad  river,  draining  an  area  of  '.   193 

The  general  character  of  the  drainage-basin  resembles  that  of  the  Catawba.  It  lies  entirely  above  the  fall-line ; 
is  well  wooded,  especially  in  the  upper  parts ;  is  without  lakes ;  affords  fine  building-stone  in  numerous  localities ; 
and  as  regards  soil,  etc.,  is  just  like  the  valley  of  the  Catawba.  The  rainfall  and  the  flow  of  the  stream  have  been 
discussed  in  detail  in  speaking  of  the  power  at  Columbia.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock,  clay,  sand,  or  gravel, 
and  in  many  places  the  banks  are  low  and  the  bottoms  overflowed  in  freshets.  The  declivity  of  the  stream  will  be 
seen  from  the  following  table,  which  shows  the  fall  to  be  less  than  that  of  the  Catawba,  but  still  very  large : 

Table  of  declivity  of  Broad  river,  South  Carolina. 


Place. 


Congaree  river,  crowing  of  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and  Augusta  railroad 

Congaree  river,  foot  of  Gervais  street,  Columbia  

Bull  sluice  

Ninety-nine  islands  

Ninety-nine  Islands  shoal  

Foot  of  Summers'  shoal  

Head  of  Summers'  shoal  

Foot  of  Lyle's  shoal  

Head  of  Lyle's  shoal  

Foot  of  Neal's  shoal  .'  

Head  of  Neal's  shoal  

Foot  of  the  Gravel  

Foot  of  Lockhart's  shoal  

Head  of  Lockhart's  shoal  

Foot  of  Kinety-nine  islands  

Head  of  Cherokee  shoal  

Crossing  of  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad  

Green  river  


Distance  from 
Columbia. 


Milei. 
-2± 

0.00 

2. 75 

11.  50 

14.25 

26.25 

27. 19 

41.00 

41.  93 

58.50 

59.12 

68.25 

69.00 

70. 41 

94.25 

100. 50 

104.75 

141.  00 


Elevation 

above  tide. 


Feet. 


129.0 
135.5 
162.0 
176.2 
193.4 
229.1 
240.7 
269.7 
281.1 
322.1 
331.  9 
339.9 
346.0 
393.7 
426.  0 
530.0 
542.0 
758.5 


Distance  be- 
tween points. 


Miles. 


-  2.0± 

-  2.75 

-  8.75 

-  2.75 

-  12.  00 

-  0.94 

-  13.81 

-  0.93 

-  16.  57 

-  0.62 

-  9.13 

-  0.75 

-  1.41 

-  23!  84 

-  C.  25 

-  4.25 

-  36.25 


Fall  between 
points. 


Feet. 


-  6. 5 

-  26.5 

-  14.2 

-  17.2 

-  35.7 

-  11.6 

-  29.  0 

-  11.4 
•  41.0 

■  9.8 

■  8.0 

■  0.1 

■  47.7 
.  32. 3 

■  104.  0 

-  12.0 

■  216.  5 


Fall  between 
points.  , 


Feet  per  mile. 

<  gjg*  |  f  3.25 
.      .  -  -:  0.;36 

■  a  -  -  -  i.  so 

,  -  6.40 

-  S  -    -  -2.97 

■  -.  -  -12.20 
.  -  '  -   •  -2.09 

-  -   -   -  -12.15 

.  ..  2:47 

'.15.60 
R9fi  ''-''-  0.87 

-  ■  8  14 
•    -    -    -    -  33. 80 

■  -  -  -  -  1.31 
\    -    .    -  -10.63 

. '  -  -  -  4*~2. 88'. 

■  -   -   -   -  6.00 


The  average  fall  between  Columbia  and  the  crossing  of  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad  (104.75 
miles)  is  nearly  3.9  feet  per  mile,  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  Green  river  it  is,  as  by  the  table,  6  feet  per  mile. 
Above  that  point  the  stream  is  a  mountain  torrent, 'the  elevation  of  its  headwaters  being  not  less  than  2,500  feet. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  map  that  the  lower  part  of  Broad  river  is  very  accessible,  while  that  part  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Pacolett  is  quite  the  contrary. 

7G5 


106  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

0 

Proceeding  up  the  river,  the  water-powers  met  with  will  now  be  named.  Almost  all  the  information  I  have 
regarding  them  is  obtained  from  the  report  on  the  river  above  referred  to.  The  shoals  are  tabulated  below,  and 
regarding  most  of  them  very  few  remarks  can  be  made. 

At  Bull  sluice  the  river  is  200  yards  wide,  but  exposed  rocks  extend  from  either  side,  leaving  a  straight  sluice 
in  the  middle  only  100  feet  wide,  through  which  the  whole  volume  of  the  river  pours  at  ordinary  stages.  Just 
above  the  sluice  a  ledge  of  rock  extends  across  the  river,  which  widens  to  900  feet.  The  head  of  the  Columbia 
canal  is  just  above  this  sluice. 

Ninety-nine  Islands  shoal  is  the  next  one  of  importance,  the  fall  being  17.26  feet  in  2|  miles.  It  is  used  for 
power  to  a  small  extent,  driving  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  on  the  left  bank,  with  a  fall  of  5  feet.  The  banks  are 
favorable  for  building,  and  the  power  is  no  doubt  easily  available.  The  river  is  very  wide,  in  some  places  over 
half  a  mile.    The  shoal  is  just  above  the  mouth  of  Cedar  creek,  but  its  head  is  just  below  that  of  Little  river. 

Boney  shoal,  11%  miles  above  Columbia,  is  a  mile  long,  with  a  fall  of  6  feet,  and  is  utilized  by  a  small  grist-mill. 

At  Alston,  25  miles  from  Columbia,  the  Greenville  and  Columbia  railroad  crosses  the  river,  which  is  here  300 
yards  wide. 

Summers'  shoal  begins  26£  miles  above  Columbia  and  extends  for  a  mile,  the  fall  being  11.61  feet,  part  of 
which  is  used  by  a  grist-mill.  This  shoal  is  said  to  be  a  fine  site  for  power.  It  is  13  nyles  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Enoree  river. 

Lyle's  shoal  (41  miles)  has  a  fall  of  11.36  feet  in  4,930  feet.  It  is  situated  3  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Tiger 
river,  and  1  mile  above  the  mouth  of  the  Enoree. 

At  Shelton,  where  the  Spartanburgh  and  Union  railroad  crosses  the  river,  the  rise  of  freshets  is  27  feet,  the 
width  of  the  stream  being  250  yards. 

Neal's  shoal  (58 J  miles)  has  a  fall  of  9.75  feet  in  3,300,  and  there  is  a  grist-mill  on  each  bank  of  the  river,  which 
is  from  250  to  350  yards  in  width.  This  shoal  is  said  to  be  favorable  for  power.  It  is  situated  14  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  Tiger  river,  and  about  9  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Turkey  creek. 

The  next  shoal,  really  the  first  of  great  importance  as  a  water-power,  and  perhaps  the  best  site  on  the  river,  is 
Lockhart's  shoal,  situated  less  than  2  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Turkey  creek.  This  shoal  is  preceded  by  a  short 
shoal  called  the  Gravel  shoal,  which  has  a  fall  of  6.1  L  feet  in  2,673  feet,  ju^t  above  which  is  Lockhart's  shoal 
proper,  which  is  "  formed  by  the  intrusion  of  two  trap-dikes  500  yards  apart,  causing  the  bed  of  the  river  to  be  a  field 
of  jagged  rock,  much  resembling  the  crater  of  an  old  volcano".  The  lower  shoal  is  2,955  feet  long,  with  a  fall  of 
15.80  feet,  and  the  upper  shoal  is  3,000  feet  long,  with  a  fall  of  31.86  feet ;  so  that  the  total  length  of  the  shoal  is 
1.41  miles,  and  the  fall  47.66  feet.  The  width  of  the  stream  above  the  shoal  is  200  yards,  and  the  depth  25  to  30 
feet.  Near  the  foot  of  the  upper  shoal  the  width  is  500  yards.  At  the  foot  of  the  lower  shoal  the  west  bank  is  very 
hilly,  and  the  east  bank  not  quite  so  much  so.  The  hills  gradually  recede  on  the  west  side,  leaving  a  bottom  800 
yards  wide  along  the  river,  and  gradually  returning  to  the  river  near  the  head  of  the  upper  shoal.  On  the  east 
bank  the  shore-line  is  irregular,  and  there  are  many  high  bluffs  along  the  river.  On  the  upper  shoal  there  is  in  one 
place  an  abrupt  fall  of  5  feet,  and  two  mills — one  on  each  side  of  the  river — utilize  a  small  amount  of  the  power. 

These  shoalc  being  the  most  difficult  on  the  river,  a  canal  was  built  around  them  on  the  west  bank  by  the  state 
between  the  years  1818  and  1825,  at  a  cost  of  .$130,000,  and  it  was  used  till  1852,  when  it  was  abandoned.  Leaving 
the  river  a  little  below  the  head  of  the  upper  shoal,  with  a  guard-lock  of  ordinarily  small  lift,  it  passes  through  the 
bottom  above  described,  and  after  descending  about  14  feet  by  a  flight  of  two  locks  it  meets  the  hills  near  the  foot 
of  the  lower  shoal  and  follows  them  to  the  river,  into  which  it  descends  by  four  locks  with  about  28  feet  lift.  The 
total  length  of  the  canal  is  7,869  feet,  and  the  fall  45.78  feet.  Its  original  dimensions  were :  width  on  top,  16  feet  ; 
at  bottom,  8  feet ;  depth,  4  feet.  At  present  the  width  at  the  bottom  is  5  feet,  and  the  depth  2.5  feet ;  and  it  is 
estimated  that  it  would  cost  $3,794  to  restore  it  to  its  original  dimensions  and  to  put  the  locks  in  order,  the  gates 
being  gone  and  some  of  the  masonry  having  been  removed.  These  locks  were  10  by  76  feet,  and  were  built  of 
first-class  cut-stone  masonry.   The  canal  is  now  filled  up  with  deposits  and  overgrown  with  trees. 

As  regards  the  availability  of  Lockhart's  shoal  for  power,  it  must  be  stated  that  its  extensive  utilization  is 
only  possible  on  the  west  bank.  The  canal  for  the  lower  600  yards  of  its  course  is  built  along  the  side  of  the 
hills  on  an  embankment  about  12  feet  high,  with  small  building-room  between  it  and  the  river,  the  outlet-lock 
being  only  16  feet  and  the  lower  flight  of  3  locks  (115  feet  above  the  outlet-lock)  only  110  feet  from  the  river, 
while  the  upper  flight  of  2  locks  is,  perhaps,  400  yards  from  the  same.  Hence  it  would  not  be  easy  to  utilize  the 
whole  fall  of  the  shoal,  but  it  is  said  that  the  fall  of  the  upper  shoal  could  easily  be  utilized,  with  abundance  of 
building-room. 

In  the  following  table  I  have  estimated  the  flow  and  the  available  power  at  this  place,  and  the  latter  will  be 
seen  to  be  very  large.  The  whole  amount  would,  of  course,  only  be  rendered  available  by  digging  a  large  canal;  for 
the  present  canal,  if  cleaned  out  to  its  original  dimensions,  would  only  carry  about  70  cubic  feet  per  second,  with 
a  fall  of  a  foot  to  the  mile. 

This  shoal  is  located  in  a  very  healthy  part  of  the  state,  in  the  midst  of  the  cotton-belt,  and  8  miles  from  Union, 
the  nearest  railroad  point.    It  is,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  finest  powers  in  the  vicinity. 

766 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  107 

Table  of  power  available  at  LockharVs  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pp.  18  to  21). 

Drainage  area. 

Fi 

Upper  shoal. 

ill. 

Lower  shoal. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Square  miles. 
1            2, 400 

Feet. 

15.  80 

Feet. 

31.86 

Cubic  feet, 
r  540 
720 
2,  100 
'  830 

1  foot  fall. 

61.3 
81.8 
240.0 
94.3 

15.80  feet  fall. 

970 
1, 300 
3,750 
1,  500 

31.80  feel  fall. 

1,  950 

2,  600 
7,  500 

3,  000 

Above  this  shoal  there  is  no  power  of  importance  for  nearly  25  miles,  the  next  of  importance  being  a  long  shoal, 
6J  miles  long,  generally  subdivided  into  two,  the  Ninety-nine  Islands  shoal,  3.2  miles  long,  with  a  fall  of  50.62  feet, 
and  Cherokee  shoal,  2  miles  long,  with  a  fall  of  50.95  feet.  The  head  of  the  latter  shoal  is  only  about  3  miles  below 
the  crossing  of  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad.  Notwithstanding  the  large  amount  of  power  theoretically 
available  at  these  shoals,  ouly  a  small  part  of  it  can  practically  be  utilized  according  to  all  that  I  could  learn,  the  hills 
coming  abruptly  up  to  the  fiver  on  both  sides  for  almost  the  whole  distance,  and  leaving  no  building-room  except  a 
small  amount  in  a  few  isolated  places,  where  power  can  be  used  to  a  certain  extent.  There  are  several  grist-mills 
along  the  shoals  in  these  places  with  small  wing-dams  and  generally  small  falls,  and  there  have  been  others,  which 
are  now  abandoned.  Of  these  sites  for  power  probably  the  best  is  the  one  formerly  utilized  by  the  King's  Mountain 
Iron  Company,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  about  2.]-  miles  above  the  foot  of  Ninety-nine  Islands  shoal.  A  branch 
of  the  river,  about  80  feet  wide,  passes  here  between  the  shore  and  an  island,  the  fall  in  the  main  river  above  the 
head  of  the  island  being  about  5  feet  iu  500,  and  the  fall  in  the  branch  about  16  feet  in  800  to  1,000,  making  in 
all  about  20  feet,  which  could  be  used  with  a  5-foot  dam  above  the  head  of  the  island  and  favorable  ground  for 
building — not  very  high,  but  probably  not  often  overflowed,  on  account  of  the  rapid  fall  of  the  stream  below.  Not 
more  than  one-quarter  or  one-fifth  of  the  volume  of  water  in  the  river  flows  naturally  to  the  west  of  the  island,  but 
more  could  be  turned  in  by  a  dam.  ,  Were  it  not  desired  to  utilize  a  large  fall,  12  feet  could  be  obtained  very  easily. 

The  fall  between  this  place  and  the  foot  of  the  shoal,  2J  miles  below,  is  about  28  feet,  which  has  only  been  used 
in  part  by  a  few  grist-mills.  Above  there  is  one  place  on  the  east  side  where  there  is  a  little  building-room,  and 
where  it  is  proposed  to  erect  a  cotton  factory,  to  use  a  fall  of  9  feet,  with  a  wing-dam  6  feet  high  and  120  feet  long, 
the  mill  to  be  a  yarn-mill,  with  3,000  spindles.  This  site  was  formerly  used  by  the  King's  Mountaiu  Iron  Company 
for  their  forges  and  furnaces,  and  is  1  mile  below  Cberokee  ford.  Opposite  it  there  was  once  a  saw-mill,  using  a 
fall  of  5  or  6  feet.    Both  sites  are  on  the  lower  part  of  Cherokee  shoal. 

About  300  yards  above  Cherokee  ford,  at  the  head  of  Cherokee  shoal,  were  formerly  located  the  works  of  the 
Magnetic  Iron  Company,  now  abandoned.  The  dam  was  a  curved  one,  extending  entirely  across  the  river,  being 
the  only  dam  quite  across,  and  was  about  410  yards  long  and  10  feet  high,  built  of  crib- work  bolted  down  to  the 
rock  foundation.  It  was  first  built  in  1837,  and  was  washed  out  in  1875,  the  works  having  been  abandoned  in  1870. 
The  canal  was  200  yards  long,  the  fall  at  the  lower  end  being  10  feet  and  the  average  fall  8  feet,  and  along  it  were 
situated  the  various  mills,  as  follows  :  stamp-mill  (S  to  10  horse-power),  grist-mill  (40  horse-power),  machine-shop  (20 
horse-power),  trip-hammer  (40  horse-power),  blast  for  forges  (40  horse-power),  rolling-mdl  (120  horse-power),  nail 
factory  (20  horse  power),  blast-furnace  (50  horse-power),  or  a  t  otal  of  340  horse-power,  and  with  a  surplus  of  water  at 
all  times.  The  dam  backed  up  about  a  mile,  with  a  width  of  300  yards.  The  banks  at  this  place  are  very  favorable 
for  building,  and  the  available  fall  is  greater  than  was  used,  amounting  to  some  16  feet  in  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
all  of  which  is  available,  although  the  land  is  more  favorable  for  building  at  the  point  where  the  old  works  were 
located.  Below  this  the  hills  close  in  upon  the  river  on  both  sides,  and  continue  from  there  down  to  the  foot  of  the 
shoal. 

To  recapitulate,  then,  regarding  these  two  shoals,  their  complete  utilization  is  impracticable  on  account  of  the 
abruptness  of  the  banks,  the  impossibility  of  building  a  canal,  and  the  small  amount  of  building-room.  In  fact,  it 
is  said  that  there  are  only  two  places  along  the  whole  shoal,  over  6  miles,  where  it  is  possible  to  get  a  road  down 
to  the  river  without  considerable  difficulty.  At  the  head  of  Cherokee  shoal,  and  in  perhaps  half  a  dozen  places 
below,  small  areas  of  favorable  building-ground  are  found  where  small  mills  might  be  located  and  some  power 
obtained,  the  best  place  of  the  kind  being,  perhaps,  the  site  of  the  works  of  the  King's  Mountain  iron-works. 

Surratt's  shoal  is  the  first  shoal  above  the  railroad,  and  is  If  miles  long,  consisting  of  a  continuous  series  of 
ledges,  the  fall  being  stated  to  be  not  less  than  20  feet  to  the  mile.  The  river  is  200  yards  wide  above  the  shoal, 
which  is  3  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  creek. 

Gaston's  shoal  is  2£  miles  beyond,  and  is  1  mile  long,  with  a  fall  of  about  10  feet,  of  which  6  feet  occur  in  the 
first  400  yards.    The  river  is  300  yards  wide. 

Palmer's  shoal,  6J  miles  further  up,  is  said  tofce  the  best  site  above  Cherokee  shoal,  the  fall  being  18  feet  in 
half  a  mile.  It  is  used  by  a  grist-mill,  with  6  feet  fall,  and  there  are  fine  building-sites  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
the  entire  fall  being  available  for  power.    It  is  situated  about  a  mile  above  the  mouth  of  the  First  Broad  river. 

7G7 


108 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Above  Palmer's  there  is  said  to  be  no  shoal  of  much  importance  till  the  mountains  are  reached,  the  fall  of  the 
stream  being  gradual,  although  considerable.  Above  Green  river  there  may  be  some  good  sites,  and  also  below ;  but 
none  were  specially  mentioned  by  persons  acquainted  with  the  river. 

The  most  noticeable  fact  connected  with  the  water-power  of  the  Broad  river  is  that  there  is  not  a  single  dam 
entirely  across  the  stream,  notwithstanding  its  large  fall  and  the  large  amount  of  power  available  on  it. 

The  following  table  contains  estimates  of  the  power  at  the  shoals  of  the  river: 

Table  ofpoicer  on  Broad  river. 


Locality. 


a  . 


Rainfall. 


Total  fall. 


W 


Horse-power  available,  gross.  * 


S  8 
5  <* 

1 


Utilized. 


Nigger  shoal  

Bull  sluice  

Ninety-nine  Islands  shoal  

Boney  shoal  

Summers'  shoal  

Lyle's  shoal  

Neal's  shoal  

Lockhart's  shoal   

Ninety -nine  Islands  shoal  

Cherokee  shoal  

Surratt's  shoal  

Gaston's  shoal  

Palmer's  shoal  

Between  month  c 

and  foot  of  Lockhart's  shoal  J  I 

Between  head  of  Lockhart's  shoal  c 

and  foot  of  Ninety-nine  Islands  shoal }  < 

Between  head  of  Cherokee  shoal  c 

and  mouth  of  Green  river  J  t 

Total  between  mouth  r 

and  mouth  of  Green  river  t  t 


Miles. 
1. 25 
2.75 
11. 50 
17.75 
26.25 
41.  00 
58.50 
69.  00 
94.  25 
98. 50 
108. 00 
110. 25 
116.  50 
2. 75 
69.  00 
70.40 
94. 25 
100.  50 
141.00 
2. 75 
141.  00 


Sq.  m. 
4,  950 
4,  950 
4,760 
4,525 
4, 480 
3,490 
2,  590 
2,400 
1,  357+ 

1,  357 
1,142 
1, 133 

821 
4,  950  > 

2,  400  5 
2, 400  l 
1, 370  I 
1, 357  J 

236  5 
4,  950  l 
236  > 


13  !  13 


In. 
51 
51 
51 
51 
52 
52 
53 
53 
54 
54. 
54 
54 
54 

52 
53 
54 
51 


Feet. 

2.5 

4. 37 
17.  26 

6.  0-f 
11. 61 
11. 36 

9.  75 
47.  66 
50.  62 
50. 95 
35. 0(?) 
10.  00 
18. 00 

184. 00 


596.  00 


750" 
1,  050" 
2. 75" 


0. 94" 
4,  930" 
3,  300" 
1.41" 
3. 20" 
2. 00"° 
1. 75" 
1.00° 
0.50° 

66. 25" 


32. 00       23.  85» 


228. 00      40. 50» 


138.  25" 


(t) 
(t) 
2, 150 

700 
1,  350 
1,050 

650 
2, 900 
1, 800 
1. 800 
1,000 

280 

350 

17,  500 
1,600 
4,  000 


(t) 
(t) 

2,  800 
925 

1,775 
1,  350 
850 

3,  900 
2, 350 
2, 350 
1,250 

360 
420 

23, 000 
2, 000 
5, 000 


30,  000    39, 000 


(t) 
(t) 

7, 950 
2,600 
5,000 

3,  800 
2,550 

11,  000 
6,900 
6,900 

4,  000 
1, 150 
1,  500 

65, 000 
5,700 
18,  000 


(t) 

(t) 
3,  250 
1,075 
2,  000 

1,  600 
1,000 
4,500 
2, 700 
2,700 
1, 450 

400 
475 

27,  000 

2,  300 
0,  000 


114, 000  < 


(t) 
(t) 
50 — 
50 — 
50 — 


50— 


0 

50—      6  15.  0  - 


50— 
225 


*  See  pages  18  to  21. 


t  Included  in  estimate  for  Columbia. 


♦  Estimates  in  these  lines  of  no  practical  value. 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  BROAD  RIVER. 


The  first  important  tributary  of  the  Broad  is  the  Enoree  river,  the  largest  one  below  it,  viz,  Little  river,  from 
the  east,  having  no  powers  worthy  of  special  mention. 

The  Enoree  river  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Greenville  county  and  flows  southeast,  forming  the  boundary 
between  the  counties  of  Greenville,  Laurens,  and  Newberry  on  the  south,  and  Spartanburgh  and  Union  on  the 
north,  joining  the  Broad  40  miles  above  Columbia,  after  flowing  a  distance  of  about  70  miles  in  a  straight  line  and 
draining  an  area  of  about  730  square  miles.  There  are  no  towns  on  the  stream,  which  flows  through  a  hilly  country, 
gently  rolling  but  not  very  broken,  the  principal  productions  of  which  are  grain  and  cotton.  The  bed  of  the 
stream  is  rock  at  all  the  shoals,  but  between  them  sand,  clay,  or  gravel.  The  prevailing  rock  in  all  this  uplandx 
country  drained  by  the  tributaries  of  the  Congaree  and  of  the  Savannah  is  gneiss,  the  streams  crossiug  the  ledges 
nearly  at  right  angles.  Almost  all  of  the  water-powers  of  this  part  of  the  state  are  formed  by  the  str&utos  passing 
over  these  ledges  of  gneiss,  and  the  falls  are  very  often  quite  sudden.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  however,  that  the 
rivers  in  this  section  of  the  country  are  in  many  places  rapidly  filling  up  with  detritus — sand  and  mud— which  is 
washed  in  from  the  hill-sides,  so  that  many  shoals  are  being  rapidly  obliterated,  and  at  many  places,  where  within 
the  memory  of  middle-aged  men  there  were  shoals  with  falls  of  from  5  to  10  feet,  at  present  scarcely  any  shoals  can 
be  noticed.  The  cause  of  this  is  probably  to  be  attributed,  to  a  large  extent,  to  the  cutting  down  of  tin  forests,  by 
which  the  soil  is  divested  of  the  roots,  fibers,  and  mosses,  which  serve  in  so  great  a  degree  to  hold  it  together  and 
prevent  its  being  washed  aWay  by  sudden  showers ;  also  partly  due,  it  is  said,  to  a  superficial  methO'  I  1  dtivation, 
by  which  the  soil  is  also  rendered  less  cohesive  and  more  liable  to  washing.  This  phenomenon  ii  lotieeablc 
in  North  Carolina,  but  not  to  such  a  marked  extent  as  in  the  portion  of  the  country  we  are  now  considi'j ihg.  It  is 
very  important  to  notice  also  that  one  effect  of  this  silting  up  of  the  streams  is  to  diminish  the  facilities  '  i 
storage ;  for  if  artificial  reservoirs  are  constructed,  they  soon  fill  tp,  and  their  capacity  is  greatly  diminished.  Thil 
effect  will  be  noticeable  on  small  streams,  where  artificial  reservoirs  could  be  located  ;  and,  in  fact,  it  is  said  that 
many  mill-ponds  fill  up  so  rapidly  that  they  have  to  be  cleaned  out  at  short  intervals. 


» 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  109 

The  valleys  of  these  streams  are  not  especially  favorable  for  reservoirs  from  a  topographical  point  of  view, 
although  some  sites  could,  no  doubt,  be  found. 

The  Enoree  has  considerable  bottom-land  on  its  lower  parts,  more  than  most  streams  in  this  vicinity,  and  the 
banks  are  not  often  steep  and  hilly.  In  fact,  along  the  banks  of  this  stream  are  some  of  the  finest  and  most  fertile 
bottom-lands  in  the  state.  The  stream  is  75  feet  wide  at  its  mouth,  and  is  navigable  for  pole-boats  for  a  distance 
of  10  miles,  the  shoals  which  formerly  existed  in  this  distance  being  filled  up.  The  rainfall  on  the  valley  is  about 
53  inches :  15  in  spring,  13  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  15  in  winter. 

The  elevation  of  the  stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad  is  842  feet,  and  at  its 
mouth  about  269  feet,  giving  a  fall  between  these  points  of  573  feet,  or  about  7  feet  to  the  mile.  The  stream  is  at 
present  very  inaccessible,  but  the  new  railroad  from  Spartanburgh  to  Greenwood,  now  being  built,  will  cross  the 
stream  about  the  middle  of  its  course. 

The  shoals  on  the  lower  part  of  this  river  are  rapidly  filling  up,  and  in  the  first  25  miles  there  are  only  two  small 
mills,  with  falls  of  5  feet  each.  At  "  Musgrove's  mill",*  about  10  miles  from  Laurens,  there  is  a  grist-mill  with  6 
feet  fall,  the  dam  being  4  feet  high,  and  there  is  said  to  be  a  fall  of  4  feet  additional  below  the  mill.  Four  miles 
above  is  the  first  power  of  importance  on  the  river,  and  between  the  two  is  a  small  shoal — Flat  shoal — with  a  fall 
of  4  feet  or  so.  At  the  other  shoal,  just  referred  to,  the  fall  is  said  to  be  16  feet,  which  is  utilized  by  a  small 
grist-mill.  I  am  not  able  to  locate  this  place  exactly  on  the  map,  but  as  nearly  as  I  can  find  the  drainage  area 
above  it  is  between  350  and  400  square  miles.    I  have  therefore  estimated  the  power  to  be  as  follows : 


Power  at  Tarbrough's  mill. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power. 

Horse-power. 

Remarks. 

Sg.  miles. 
375 

Feet. 
16 

Ou.  ft. 
r  62 

80 

400 

I  97 

1  foot  fall. 

7.0 

9.0 

45.4 

11.0 

16  feet  fall. 

112 

144 

725 
176 

|  Only  20  to  30  horse  power  utilized. 

In  regard  to  my  estimates  of  the  power  on  these  streams  of  western  South  Carolina  it  must  be  remarked  that 
they  are  liable  to  considerable  error  on  account  of  lack  of  data  for  comparison.  The  powers  stated  to  be  utilized 
by  various  mills  and  factories  are,  in  many  cases,  very  large  in  proportion  to  the  fall  and  the  drainage  area,  and  it' 
they  were  taken  as  correct,  the  conclusion  would  be  inevitable  that  these  streams  have  a  much  larger  flow  per 
square  mile  of  drainage  area  than  those  farther  north,  or  even  than  those  in  New  England,  notwithstanding 
the  lakes  in  the  latter  part  of  the  country ;  and  it  may  be  that  the  effect  of  the  depth  of  the  soil  and  of  the 
forests  in  South  Carolina  is  larger  than  would  be  expected,  and  that  the  streams  in  question  are  quite  constant  in 
flow  and  are  fed  by  perennial  springs.  But  in  the  first  place  the  powers  stated  to  be  used  generally  have  reference 
to  ordinary  years,  and  even  if  water  is  scarce  for  a  month  or  so  in  summer,  it  is  rarely  mentioned;  secondly,  the 
rated  power  of  turbine- wheels  is  generally  much  too  large;  and  thirdly,  people  generally  have  a  tendency  to 
overrate  their  powers,  especially  if  they  do  not  use  quite  the  full  power  of  the  stream.  I  have  therefore  prepared 
my  estimates  from  comparisons  with  streams  of  similar  drainage  area,  and  they  must  be  looked  upon  as  giving 
simply  the  power  and  flow  which  would  be  expected,  reasoning  from  analogy,  and  not  taking  into  account  any 
abnormal  circumstances,  such  as  large  springs,  which  may  exist  in  some  cases. 

The  next  shoal  above  this  one  is  Mountain  shoal,  the  most  important  power  on  the  Enoree.  It  is  situated 
about  12  miles  from  Laurens,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  point.  The  stream  pours  here  over  a  ledge  of  gneiss- 
rock,  falling  nearly  70  feet  in  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  but  divided  into  two  parts.  At  the  head  of  the  upper  shoal  a 
natural  dam  extends  nearly  across  the  stream,  which  is  some  200  to  300  feet  wide,  and  the  stream  falls  16.5  feet  in 
500,  the  whole  of  which  fall  can  be  easily  used  on  the  left  bank,  with  safe  building-sites,  the  right  bank  not  being 
so  favorable.  A  fall  of  6  feet  is  used  here  by  a  cotton-gin  with  a  wing-dam.  After  flowing  200  yards  with  a  fall 
of  only  a  couple  of  feet,  the  river  flows  over  a  second  ledge  of  gneiss,  falling  52  feet  in  250  yards.  At  the  head  of 
this  fall  the  stream  is  300  feet  wide,  and  a  wing-dam,  consisting  simply  of  a  log  bolted  to  the  rock,  turns  the  water  to 
the  left  bank,  where  a  race  300  feet  long  affords  a  fall  of  16.5  feet  at  the  grist-  and  saw-mill  below,  although  25 
feet  could  be  obtained.  The  banks  on  the  left  are  steep  and  rocky,  while  on  the  right  they  are  lower,  and  at  the 
foot  of  the  shoal  is  a  bottom  which  is  sometimes  overflowed  to  a  depth  of  5  or  6  feet.  The  channel  of  the  stream  is 
interspersed  with  islands,  one  at  the  foot  of  the  shoal,  on  the  left  side,  covering  12  acres  at  low  water,  and  one  at 
the  head,  on  the  right,  covering  6  acres,  with  a  narrow  branch  between  it  and  the  right  bank.    Some  power  could 

•Mills  states  that  at  Musgrove's  ford  there  is  a  fall  of  "26  feet  in  14  chains".  The  falls  have,  however,  doubtless  changed 
considerably  since  his  book  was  written.  * 

1012  W  P— VOL  16  49  7(39 


110 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


be  used  at  the  site  of  the  grist-mill  with  a  fall  of  20  to  30  feet,  but  the  entire  power  could  best  be  used  on  the  right 
bank,  with  a  canal  750  feet  long,  and  without  a  darn  of  any  consequence.  The  water  could  not  be  stored  during 
the  night,  except  above  the  upper  shoal.  Thus  it  would  seem  best  to  utilize  the  two  shoals  separately,  by  which 
means  all  the  fall  could  easily  be  rendered  available. 

The  following  table  gives  my  estimate  of  the  power  here,  together  with  the  drainage  area  and  rainfall : 


Table  of  power  at  Mountain  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Kainfall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Utilized. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

Autumn. 

Winter. 

Tear. 

Net 
horse- 
power. 

Fall. 

Sg.  miles. 

Feet. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Cu.ft. 

1ft.  fall. 

Wftfall. 

Feet. 

f  ^ 

4.8 

330 

|  280 

70 

15 

14 

10 

16 

55 

J  56 

6.3 

450 

l  50 

1 

23 

Maximum,  -with  storage  ;  

1  300 

34.0 

2,400 

Low  season,  dry  years  

I  04 

7.3 

500 

J 

This  power  is  eminently  worthy  of  attention,  for  it  is  in  all  respects  an  excellent  one.  Building-stone  is  near 
at  hand,  and  the  only  objection  to  the  place — its  inaccessibility — bids  fair  to  be  removed  by  the  construction  of  the 
Spartanburgh  and  Greenwood  railroad,  which  will  probably  cross  the  river  just  at  the  shoal.  The  place  is  owned 
by  Mr.  W.  A.  McOlintock,  Mountain  Shoal  post-office. 

Above  this  place  come  several  small  shoals — Kilgore's,  Yarbrough's,  Flemming,  Woffbrd's,  and  Leatherwood's  ; 
but  they  are  gradually  being  filled  up  and  are  disappearing,  especially  Kilgore's  and  the  Flemming  shoal,  which 
are  said  to  be  worthless.  The  other  three,  none  of  which  are  used,  are  said  to  have  falls  of  from  6  to  12  feet 
available.  But  the  most  important  power  is  Van  Patten's  shoal,  about  300  yards  above  Leatherwood's  shoal,  15 
miles  above  Mountain  shoal  (by  river),  and  over  20  miles  from  Laurens.  The  river  here  falls  over  a  ledge  of  gneiss- 
rock,  as  at  Mountain  shoal,  the  fall  being  55  feet  in  900  feet.  Both  banks  are  steep,  and  both  could  be  almost 
equally  well  used  for  building  ;  but  the  left  bank  is  probably  the  more  favorable  if  only  a  small  amount  of  power  i& 
to  be  used,  while  if  the  total  available  power  is  to  be  utilized  the  right  is  perhaps  better.  However,  the  whole  fall 
could  be  easily  utilized.  At  present  only  a  small  portion  is  used  by  a  small  mill  on  each  side.  The  river  is  about 
150  yards  wide  at  the  head  of  the  shoal. 

Leatherwood's  shoal,  just  below,  is  also  available,  the  natural  fall  being  10  to  12  feet  in  150  yards. 

The  following  table  gives  my  estimate  of  power,  with  drainage  area  and  rainfall  for  these  two  shoals : 


State  of  flow  (see  pp.  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Kainfall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Utilized. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

a 

3 
3 

<l 

Winter. 

Tear. 

Net 
horse- 
power. 

Fall. 

Minimum  low  season  

Low  season,  dry  years  

Sg.  miles. 

1 

!>  234 
J 

Feet. 

(  Van  Pat-  1 

ten's,  55; 
<!  Leather-  > 

wood's, 
{     10-12.  J 

In. 

15 

In. 
14 

In. 
10 

In. 
16 

In. 

55 

Gu.  feet, 
r  35 
47 

]  250 
I  53 

1  ft  fall. 
4.  0 
5.3 
28.4 
6.0 

I 

55  ft  fall. !  ID  ft.  fall. 
220           40 -j 
290           50  1 
1,  550          280  | 
330           60  J 

50— 

Feet. 
12  and  6- 

Like  Mountain  shoal,  this  is  a  most  excellent  power,  and  worthy  of  attention. 

The  next  shoal  above  Van  Patten's  is  one  belonging  to  the  Pelham  Manufacturing  Company,  and  the  fall 
available  is  30  feet,  with  a  5-foot  dam  and  a  race  500  yards  long  through  clay,  according  to  the  secretary,  O.  P. 
Jackson,  esq.  Just  above  it  is  the  Buena  Vista  cotton  factory,  using  a  fall  of  18  feet  and  00  horse-power,  with  a 
dam  4  feet  high,  120  yards  long,  and  a  race  of  80  feet.  In  summer  there  is  no  waste  except  at  night,  when  running 
full  capacity,  the  mill  being  run  12  hours.    In  addition  to  the  factory,  there  is  a  gin-,  saw-,  and  grist  mill. 

One  mile  above  this  is  a  shoal  belonging  to  Dr.  T.  R.  League,  the  fall  being  23  feet  in  a  distance  of  about  80  feet, 
with  no  dam,  according  to  Mr.  Jackson.  These  three  shoals  last  mentioned  are  all  about  11  miles  from  Greenville 
and  G  miles  from  the  Air-line  railroad  at  Greer's  station. 

Abo  re  this  are  several  other  shoals,  one  (Taylor's)  about  8  miles  from  Greenville  and  half  a  mile  above  the 
railroad,  and  said  to  have  a  natural  fall  of  5  to  8  feet,  capable  of  being  increased  by  a  dam.  And  there  are  several 
similar  ones  further  up,  including  Bannister's,  with  a  fall  of  15  feet  and  a  dam  9  feet  high. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Enoree  river  has  a  succession  of*considerable  shoals  affording  excellent  powers. 
Crossing  the  ledges  of  rock  at  larger  angles  than  the  Broad  river,  the  falls  of  all  these  tributaries  are  more  abrupt. 

770 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  "of  power  at  Pelham  for  the  three  shoals  mentioned. 


Ill 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage. 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


Fall. 


Feet. 

Pelham  30; 
Buena  Vis- 
ta factory, 
l8;League's 
shoal,  23. 


Rainfall. 


In. 


In. 


In. 


In. 


16  i  14 


10  :  10 


In. 


56  <; 


Flow 
per 

second. 


Cu.  ft. 
10 
12 
100 
15 


Horse-power  available,  gross. 


lft.  fall. 
1.1 
1.4 
11.4 
1.7 


30  ft.  faU. 

18  ft.  fall. 

33 

20 

42 

25 

340 

200 

51 

31 

23  ft.  fall. 
25 -I 

32 


Utilized. 


Net 
horse- 
power. 


Fall. 


Feet. 


60 


18 


Mr.  Jackson  estimates  the  available  power  of  these  three  shoals  daring  nine  months  of  an  ordinary  year  at 
200,  150  to  200,  and  120  horse-power,  respectively.  My  estimates  above  given  amount  to  G3,  39,  and  49  horse-power 
during,  say,  the  driest  month  of  an  ordinary  year,  and  about  180,  120,  and  150  horse-power  during  nine  months.  I 
do  not  know  that  Mr.  Jackson's  estimates  are  founded  on  gaugings,  but  my  own  are,  of  course,  liable  to  many  errors. 
Mr.  Jackson  states  that  at  the  factory  they  run  full  capacity  (60  horse-power)  all  the  time,  with  water  always 
wasting  some,  which  would  indicate  the  above  results,  based  on  analogy,  to  be  too  small. 


THE  TIGER  RIVER. 

The  next  important  tributary  of  the  Broad  is  the  Tiger,  which  enters  it  only  4£  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Enoree,  and  from  the  same  side.  It  is  formed  in  Spartanburgh  county  by  the  union  of  three  forks,  the  north,  middle, 
and  south,  whence  it  flows  into  Union,  and  at  its  lower  extremity  forms  for  a  short  distance  the  boundary  between 
that  county  and  Newberry.  Of  its  headwaters,  the  south  and  the  middle  forks  rise  in  Greenville  county  and  drain 
respectively  areas  of  108  and  65  square  miles,  the  latter  uniting  with  the  north  fork,  which  rises  in  Spartanburgh 
county,  and  drains  41  square  miles;  the  total  drainage  area  of  the  middle  and  north  forks  at  their  junction  with 
the  south  fork  being  121  square  miles.  The  length  of  the  Tiger  from  the  junction  of  its  forks  to  its  mouth  is  about 
36  miles,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  and  its  total  drainage  area  720  square  miles,  almost  exactly  the  same  as  that 
of  the  Enoree.  The  principal  tributary  of  the  stream  is  Fair  Forest  creek,  which  rises  in  Spartanburgh  county  and 
enters  the  Tiger  in  Union,  about  15  miles  from  its  mouth,  after,  draining  about  203  square  miles.  The  Tiger  is  very 
similar  in  all  respects  to  the  Enoree,  to  which  it  flows  nearly  parallel,  the  distance  between  the  two  varying  from  4 
miles  in  their  lower  parts  to  7  or  8  near  their  headwaters,  the  ridge  between  them  being  low.  Their  drain  age- 
basins.are  also  exactly  similar  in  character,  and  the  Tiger  is  also  being  gradually  filled  up  and  the  shoals  obliterated 
in  places.  The  elevations  of  the  three  forks  at  their  crossings  with  the  Air-line  railroad  are  as  follows :  South 
Tiger,  728  feet;  Middle  Tiger,  792  feet;  North  Tiger,  712  feet.  The  elevation  of  the  mouth  of  the  stream  being 
about  285  feet,  the  fall  is  perhaps  at  the  rate  of  6  or  7  feet  per  mile,  or  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Enoree.  The 
rainfall  is  the  same  as  on  the  latter  stream;  and  as  regards  accessibility,  the  same  remarks  are  true  regarding  both. 

On  account  of  the  silting  up  of  the  stream  there  are  no  shoals  of  importance  for  30  or  40  miles  from  the  mouth, 
the  first  worth  mentioning  being  the  site  of  "  Hill's  factory",  situated  about  18  miles  from  Spartanburgh,  Laurens, 
and  Union.  Four  miles  below  it  is  a  fall  of  10  feet  used  by  a  grist-mill,  the  available  power  at  which  place  can  be 
seen  from  the  following  table  for  Hill's  factory.  Between  this  point  (called  Burnt  factory)  and  the  mouth  of  the 
stream  there  were  formerly  4  mills,  all  now  abandoned  on  account  of  the  filling  up  of  the  shoals. 

At  "  Hill's  factory"  the  fall  continues  for  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  but  may  be  divided  into  three  parts,  the 
lower  one  with  a  fall  of  about  12  feet,  the  middle  one  with  15  to  16  feet,  and  the  upper  one  with  12  to  15  feet 
(according  to  Mr.  Hill).  The  width  of  the  stream  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Enoree  at  Mountain  shoals.  The 
bed  is  rock,  and  the  banks  said  to  be  favorable.  The  lower  shoal  has  been  used  for  a  factory,  but  is  now  used  for 
a  grist-mill,  and  there  were  iron  works  on  the  middle  shoal  sixty  or  seventy  years  ago.  The  following  table  gives 
my  estimate  of  the  power  : 


Rainfall. 

State  of  flow  (seepages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

Autumn. 

u 

CD 
C 

Tear. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  avail- 
able, gross. 

Remarks. 

Minimum  low  season  1 

Maximum,  with  storage  [ 

Low  season,  dry  years  J 

Sq.  miles. 
308 1 

Feet. 

Perhaps  40 
feet  in  aft. 

In. 
j  15 

In. 
14 

In. 
10 

In. 
16 

In. 

55 

Cti.  feet. 

J  CO 
330 
I  70 

1  ft.  fall. 
5.1 
6.8 
37.5 
8.0 

iOftfall. 
204 

272 
1,  500 
320 

1 

I  Fall  according  to  Mr.  Hill. 
J 

112 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Four  miles  above  is  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  (Nesbitt's),  with  a  fall  of  9  feet  and  a  dam  5  feet  high,  subject  to 
stoppage  by  backwater.  The  power  available  is  probably  about  70  horse-power  iu  the  low  season  of  dry  years,  86 
in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years,  and  over  200  during  nine  months  in  an  ordinary  year.  The  drainage  area  above 
is  about  274  square  miles.  There  are  some  powers  above,  below  the  junction  of  the  forks,  one  of  which  is  said  to 
have  a  fall  of  15  feet,  and  is  not  improved. 

The  North  Tiger  has  one  power  below  its  junction  with  the  Middle  Tiger,  used  by  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  (Ott's), 
with  14  feet  fall.  The  dam  does  not  extend  entirely  across,  and  is  3  feet  high,  the  race  being  200  feet  long.  The 
owner  states  that  he  has  a  fall  of  36  feet  in  300  yards,  the  bed  and  banks  being  rock ;  and  it  was  very  generally  stated 
that  this  power  is  an  excellent  one.  The  drainage  area  above  this  place  being  about  112  square  miles,  I  would 
estimate  the  power  at  about  2  horse-power  per  foot  in  the  low  season  of  dry  years,  2J  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary 
years,  and  perhaps  7  or  8  horse-power  for  nine  months  of  ordinary  years.  It  is  said  that  there  are  three  shoals 
not  improved  between  this  place  and  Nesbitt's,  and  the  falls  of  the  same  are  stated  to  be  10,  15,  and  15  feet,  the 
last  below  the  junction  of  the  south  fork,  and  already  referred  to. 

The  North  Tiger  above  the  mouth  of  the  Middle  Tiger  is  so  small  a  stream  that  it  is  not  worth  while  to 
consider  it  in  detail.  There  are  several  shoals  and  mills  upon  it,  but  the  stream,  even  at  its  mouth,  probably  will  not 
afford  over  3  horse-power  per  foot  for  nine  months  in  an  ordinary  year.  The  powers  are  excellent,  although  small, 
and  are  generally  abrupt,  with  the  best  facilities  for  dams  and  buildings.  There  are  some  sites  not  used,  one 
formerly  used,  belonging  to  Dr.  Cleveland,  with  a  fall  of  some  15  or  20  feet. 

The  Middle  Tiger  is  also  a  small  stream,  its  drainage  area  at  its  mouth  being  65  square  miles.  It  would 
therefore,  in  all  probability,  not  afford  over  5  or  6  horse-power  per  foot  during  nine  months  of  an  ordinary  year. 
It  has  a  number  of  shoals,  where  the  stream  pours  over  ledges  of  solid  rock,  falling  from  10  to  20  feet  in  a  short 
distance,  and  there  are  several  grist-mills  and  a  cotton  factory  on  the  stream.  Dean's  mill  has  a  fall  of  11  feet,  and 
above  it  are  4  to  5  feet  unimproved ;  the  drainage  area  is  about  50  square  miles.  At  Ballinger's  mills  there  is  a  fall 
of  14  feet;  and  at  the  Orawfordsvdle  cotton  factory  a  fall  of  17 J  feet  is  used,  with  35  horse-power.  There  are  three 
sites  not  used  on  the  stream,  of  which  the  best  is  Penny  shoal,  one  mile  below  Ballinger's  mills,  where  there  is  a 
continuous  fall  for  a  distance  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  over  a  layer  of  gneiss-rock,  the  total  fall  being  about  35 
feet.  The  banks  are  favorable  for  a  canal  and  for  building,  but  a  high  dam  could  not  be  erected  at  the  head  of 
the  shoal,  because  it  would  reduce  the  fall  at  the  mill  above.  The  stream  is  from  100  to  150  feet  wide.  The 
drainage  area  above  this  shoal  being  about  50  square  miles,  the  available  power  will  probably  not  exceed  1.2  horse- 
power per  foot  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years  (42  horse-power  in  all),  and  about  4  horse-power  per  foot  during 
nine  months  of  ordinary  years  (140  horse-power  in  all).  This  shoal  is  2  miles  from  Wellford,  on  the  Air-line  railroad, 
and  is  owned  by  Dr.  J.  Jones,  of  that  place.  Below  it,  and  a  little  above  Crawfordsville,  is  a  second  unimproved 
shoal,  said  to  be  superior  to  the  one  at  the  latter  place,  it  being  equal  in  fall,  and  having  better  building  facilities. 
Three  miles  below  Crawfordsville  is  a  third  fall,  not  used,  said  to  have  a  fall  of  10  feet.  I  must  once  more  state  that 
the  drainage  areas  I  have  calculated  make  no  pretensions  to  accuracy,  and  I  have  more  than  once  had  occasion  to 
notice  great  disagreements  between  those  given  by  different  maps.  My  estimates  of  power  are  likely  to  be  in  error 
one  way  or  the  other  by  fully  20  or  25  per  cent. 

The  South  Tiger  is  the  largest  of  the  three  forks,  and  it  resembles  the  other  forks  in  all  respects,  and,  like  them, 
has  a  number  of  fine  shoals,  some  used  and  some  unimproved.  It  drains  a  total  area  of  108  square  miles,  and 
will  therefore  afford,  in  all  probabiUty,  about  2  horse-power  per  foot  in  the  low  season  of  dry  years,  2£  in  the  low 
season  of  ordinary  years,  and  6  or  7  for  nine  months  of  ordinary  years.  There  is  one  cotton  factory  on  the  stream^ 
with  a  fall  of  17  feet,  and  several  grist-  and  saw-mills.  There  is  said  to  be  one  shoal,  with  a  fall  of  about  10  feet, 
not  used,  not  far  from  the  mouth.    Some  of  the  shoals  on  this  stream  are  being  silted  up. 

Fair  Forest  creek,  the  principal  tributary  of  the  Tiger,  flows  within  a  mile  or  so  of  Spartanburgh,  and  within  5 
miles  of  Union,  and  has  a  number  of  grist-mills.  Being  similar  in  character  to  the  streams  already  described,  it  is 
necessary  merely  to  describe  the  only  important  shoal  on  the  stream,  at  present  not  utilized,  viz,  Murphy's  shoal, 
about  5  miles  from  Union,  and  about  an  equal  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream.  The  fall  is  about  19  feet  in 
a  distance  of  400,  over  a  ledge  of  gneiss-rock ;  but  the  rapids  continue  below,  the  total  fall  amounting  to  about  27 
feet  in  1,000.  Just  above  the  falls  the  stream  is  100  feet  wide,  and  at  the  falls  it  is  about  200  or  250  feet  wide.  The 
left  bank  is  favorable  for  building,  and  the  fall  of  19  feet  could  be  utilized  very  easily,  and  in  fact  14  feet  of  it  have 
been  utilized  until  within  a  few  months  by  a  grist-mill  and  cotton-gin,  with  a  low  wing-dam  about  300  feet  long  and 
3  or  4  feet  high  and  a  wooden  flume  150  feet  in  length.  A  high  dam  could  not  well  be  built  without  overflowing 
considerable  bottom-land.  The  drainage  area  above  this  site  being  about  180  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the 
power  in  the  following  table : 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Sg.  miles. 


Feet. 


Oubiefeet. 


I  foot  fall.  I  19  feet  fall. 


3.0  j  57 

4.0  \  76 

22.7  |  431 

5. 0  |  95 


27  feetfall. 

81 

108 


180 


613 
135 


772 


J 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  ,  113 

Hence  in  ordinary  years,  with  19  feet  fall,  about  110  horse-power  could  be  obtained  in  the  dry  season,  and  over 
300  during  nine  months. 

The  banks  on  the  south  side  of  the  stream  are  high  and  rocky,  so  that  the  power  can  best  be  used  on  the  other 
6ide,  where  the  grist-mill  was.  The  utilization  of  the  total  fall  of  27  feet  would  not  be  so  easy,  the  location  not 
being  so  safe,  on  account  of  the  presence  of  a  bottom  just  below  the  main  fall. 

Less  than  a  mile  below  this  shoal  is  a  small  rift,  with  a  fall  of  perhaps  G  feet  in  GOO,  with  a  favorable  location 
on  the  south  side.   Between  the  two  there  are  other  shoals,  which  make  up,  with  the  one  just  referred  to,  a  fall 
of  12  or  15  feet  in  a  distance  of  three-eighths  of  a  mile.    This  fall  is  available,  and  could  best  be  utilized  by  building  • 
a  dam  about  8  feet  in  height,  provided  the  bed  should  be  found  favorable.    This  place,  however,  is  far  inferior  to 
Murphy's  shoal. 

On  a  little  tributary  to  the  Fair  Forest  river,  about  5  miles  from  Spartanburgh,  there  is  a  perpendicular  fall  of 
30  or  40  feet;  but  the  stream  is  so  small  that  the  power  is  unimportant,  though  it  is  used  by  a  small  mill. 

THE  PACOLETT  RIVER. 

The  next  tributary  of  the  Broad  river  which  is  worthy  of  special  mentiou  is  the  Pacolett  river,  which  enters  from 
the  west  in  Union  county,  at  a  point  about  75  miles  above  Columbia,  and  is  one  of  the  most  important  tributaries 
as  regards  water-power.  It  is  formed  by  the  union  of  two  forks,  the  North  Pacolett  and  the  South  Pacolett,  the 
former  rising  in  the  southern  part  of  Polk  county,  North  Carolina,  and  the  latter  in  the  northern  part  of  Greenville 
county,  South  Carolina,  uniting  in  Spartanburgh  county.  The  distance  from  the  junction  of  these  forks  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  is  about  37  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  the  total  drainage  area  of  the  stream  is  about  475  square 
miles,  of  which  the  North  Pacolett  drains  80  square  miles,  the  South  Pacolett  82  square  miles,  and  Lawson's  fork, 
the  other  principal  tributary,  82  square  miles.  The  stream  flows  within  7  miles  of  Spartanburgh,  Lawson's  fork 
passing  within  2  miles  of  that  place. 

The  drainage-basin  of  the  Pacolett  river  is  mountainous  in  its  upper  part,  and  especially  in  that  part  drained  by 
the  North  fork,  which  is  a  real  mountain  stream,  tumbling  down  a  narrow  valley,  from  rock  to  rock,  with  a  fall  of 
100  feet  or  over  to  the  mile.  The  basin  of  the  South  fork,  and  of  the  main  stream  below  the  junction  of  the  two, 
is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Tiger,  or  to  that  of  the  Enoree,  except  that  it  is  more  hilly  and  broken,  especially 
toward  the  lower  part,  where  there  are  fewer  bottoms  than  near  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  The  rainfall  is  about  the 
same  also.  The  elevation  of  the  stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Air-line  railroad  is  612  feet,  and  at  its  mouth  about 
400  feet;  so  that  the  fall  between  those  points  is  at  the  rate  of  about  7  feet  to  the  mile,  or  about  the  same  as  that 
of  the  Tiger  and  the  Enoree.  The  stream  is  a  succession  of  shoals,  and  affords  considerable  water-power;  and  it 
has  one  great  advantage  over  the  Tiger  and  the  Enoree,  viz,  that  it  is  easily  accessible  from  the  Air-line  and  the 
Spartanburgh  and  Union  railroads. 

The  first  shoal  met  with  in  ascending  the  river  is  Skull  shoal,  4  miles  from  the  mouth,  but  the  fall  is  only  3  feet 
or  so.  It  is  to  be  remarked  here  that  the  Pacolett  and  the  streams  north  of  it  suffer  less  from  the  silting  up  of 
shoals  than  the  Tiger  and  the  Enoree,  perhaps  due  to  the  fact  that  the  country  is  better  wooded  as  the  mountains  are 
approached.  The  next  shoal  above  Skull  shoal  is  Grindall  shoal,  14  miles  from  the  mouth,  with  a  fall  of  about  6  feet, 
used  by  a  grist-mill.  The  next  is  Easterwood  shoal,  17  miles  from  the  mouth,  mentioned  by  Mills  as  having  a  fall 
of  6£  feet  in  six  chains ;  but  it  has  filled  up  somewhat  since  his  report,  and  is  of  no  value.  The  first  really  important 
power  on  the  stream  is  Trough  shoal,  the  most  notable  fall  on  the  river,  23  miles  from  its  mouth,  12  miles  from 
Spartanburgh,  and  2  miles  from  Pacolett  station,  on  the  Spartanburgh  and  Union  railroad.  The  total  length  of  the 
shoal  is  nearly  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and  the  total  fall  in  that  distance  60  feet  or  thereabout,  as  ascertained  by  a 
pocket-level.  At  the  upper  end  the  stream  is  contracted  for  a  distance  of  100  feet  or  over  between  two  vertical  walls 
of  rock  to  a  width  of  from  10  to  15  feet,  the  depth  being  about  16  feet  at  ordinary  stages  of  the  water;  but  at  high 
water  these  walls  are  overflowed,  and  the  whole  stream  has  a  width  of  200  or  300  feet.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  solid 
rock  or  bowlders  for  the  entire  length  of  the  shoal,  and  the  fall  is  distributed  as  follows,  commencing  at  the  head : 

Twenty-two  feet  in  500,  including  the  "trough";  width  about  200  feet;  banks  on  the  right  not  bluffy,  and 
favorable  for  building;  on  the  left  not  so  good. 

Five  and  a  half  feet  in  750,  down  to  where  the  stream  is  crossed  by  a  bridge;  width,  200  feet.  Bank  on  the  right 
favorable ;  on  the  left  rocky.  This  fall  extends  from  the  foot  of  the  dam  (a  wooden  wing-dam  about  250  feet  long  and 
4  feet  high,  extending  in  a  broken  line  out  into  the  stream)  to  the  bridge,  the  dam  supplying  power  to  a  saw-  and 
grist-mill  and  cotton-gin,  and  having  a  fall  of  from  6  to  7  feet.  ' 

Five  and  a  half  feet  in  350  ;  a  very  steep  and  rocky  bluff  on  both  sides,  especially  on  the  right,  and  very  difficult 
or  impossible  to  canal  along  it. 

Eleven  feet  in  500,  and  both  banks  are  very  rocky  and  steep.  At  the  head  of  this  distance  a  creek  enters  from  the  left. 

Five  and  a  half  feet  in  250,  both  banks  being  steep  and  rocky.  It  includes  the  narrowest  part  of  the  shoal 
below  the  trough,  the  stream  being  from  100  to  125  feet  wide. 

Five  and  a  half  feet  in  750,  the  bank  rocky  on  the  right,  except  at  the  center  of  distance,  where  the  hills 
recede,  and  the  left  bank  is  high  and  precipitous  at  the  upper  end,  but  low  at  the  lowej  end.  Width  of  stream  at 
head,  150  feet ;  at  foot,  200  feet. 

773 


114, 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Five  and  a  half  feet  in  300,  the  right  bank  being  very  rocky  and  steep.    This  makes  a  total  of  about  60  feet. 

The  accompanying  sketch,  wliick  makes  no  pretensions  to  accuracy,  will  make  the  location  clearer. 

From  the  above,  it  is  clear  that  the  utilization  of  the  entire  fall  at  one  place  would  be  impracticable,  except  at 
great  expense.  At  the  head,  however,  a  fall  of  20  feet  could  be  used  very  easily,  with  no  dam  of  importance,  and 
with  a  favorable  site  for  building  6n  the  south  side.  If  the  fall  below  were  to  be  used,  it  could  probably  best 
be  done  by  a  dam  near  the  middle  of  the  shoal,  and  perhaps  15  to  20  feet  high,  which  could  be  put  in  without  doing 
any  damage  by  overflowing.  A  canal  one-quarter  of  a  mile  long  would  give  a  fall  of  perhaps  30  feet  at  the  foot  of  the 
shoal.    The  drainage  area  and  the  estimated  power  for  this  place  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Table  of  power  at  Trough  shoals. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall. 


Sq.  miles.  Feet. 


Minimum  h 

Minimum  low  season  I  I 

Maximum,  with  storage   ( 

Low  season,  dry  years  J 


380 


60 


Rainfall. 


In.  In. 


15 


In. 


10 


In. 


In. 


16  55 


Ou./t. 

(  62 
88 
420 
100 


Horse-power  available,  gross. 


1  foot. 
7.0 
10.0 
47.7 
11.4 


20  feet. 
140 
200 
950 
230 


30  feet. 
210 
300 
1,430 
350 


Utilized. 


Horse- 
power, 
net. 


Fall. 


Feet. 


25  ± 


This  power  is  one  of  ihe  best  in  the  vicinity.  As  before  stated,  it  is  used  now  only  by  a  small  grist-mill. 
Building-stone  can  be  had  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  railroad  is  only  two  miles  distant. 

One  mile  above  Trough  shoals  is  Brown's  mill,  where  there  is  said  to  be  a  fall  of  some  14  feet,  and  two  and  a  half 
miles  beyond  is  Hammett's  mill,  said  to  have  a  fall  of  8  or  10  feet.  This  is  above  the  mouth  of  Lawson's  fork,  and  the 
drainage  area  is  not  much  greater  than  that  above  Clifton.  Just  below  the  mouth  of  Lawson's  fork  is  the  Crocker 
Ford  shoal  (fall  not  known).  Two  and  a  half  miles  above  it,  and  above  Hammett's  mill,  is  another  shoal,  at 
Thompson's  ford,  with  a  fall  of  perhaps  5  or  6  feet ;  and  two  miles  further  up  is  a  third  shoal,  said  to  have  a  fall  of 
about  10  feet.  One  mile  above,  and  30  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  is  Hurricane  shoal,  formerly  occupied  by 
iron  works,  but  now  the  site  of  the  Clifton  cotton  factory.  This  shoal  is  7  miles  from  Spartanburgh,  and  only  a  mile 
or  two  from  the  Air-line  railroad.    The  fall  is  22  feet,  and  the  estimated  power  is  as  follows  : 

Table  of  potver  at  Clifton  factory. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Remarks. 

Sq.  miles. 
220 

Feet. 

22 

Cubic  feet, 
r  33 
44 

250 

I  53 

1  foot  fall. 

3.7 
5.0 
28.4 
6.0 

22  feet  fall. 

80 
110 
625 
130 

1  The  estimate  of  drainage 
1    area  is  particularly  liable 
to  error  in  the  case  of  t  his 
J  stream. 

Low  season,  dry  years  

According  to  the  estimate,  in  ordinary  years  160  horse-power  may  be  expected  in  the  dry  season,  and  400  or 
over  for  nine  months. 

Two  miles  above  Clifton  is  a  fall  of  perhaps  8  feet,  not  improved,  called  the  Lindner  shoal.  This  is  the  last 
shoal  on  the  main  stream. 

Mills  gives  the  following  shoals  above  the  mouth  of  Lawson's  fork :  3  miles  from  junction,  12  feet  in  10 
chains  (this  is  probably  Hammett's  Mill  shoal) ;  2  miles  above,  10  feet  in  3  chains  (this  is  probably  Hammett's  upper 
shoal) ;  a  mile  above,  Hurricane  shoal,  16  feet  in  40  chains;  5  miles  further  up,  8  feet  in  4  chains  (this  is  perhaps 
the  Lindner  shoal).    The  chain  referred  to  is  probably  66  feet. 

The  South  fork  has  only  small  saw-  or  grist-mills,  and  no  large  powers  so  far  as  could  be  learned.  The  North 
fork  has  a  very  large  fall  in  its  upper  part,  and  below  the  mountains  is  a  grist-mill  with  12  feet  fall,  and  a  cotton 
factory  with  12  feet  fall.  Both  streams  are  of  about  the  same  size,  draining  about  80  square  miles  each,  and  will 
probably  Afford  at  their  mouths  2  horse-power  per  foot  fall  in  the  dry  season  of  ordinary  years  and  5  or  6  horse-power 
during  nine  months.  The  Spartanburgh  and  Ashville  railroad  follows  the  North  fork  for  some  miles  in  the 
mountains,  where  the  stream  is  a  roaring  mountain  torrent.  There  are  numerous  sites  for  small  mills  here,  and 
there  is  one  saw-  and  grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  34  feet  and  scarcely  any  dam,  and  a  race  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long. 

Lawson's  fork,  which  enters  the  Pacolett  several  miles  below  Clifton,  has  a  drainage  area  of  about  82  square  miles, 
and  will  probably  give  2  horse-power  per  foot  during  the  dry  season  of  ordinary  years  and  6  horse-power  during  nine 
months,  according  to  my  estimates.  There  are  several  falls  on  it :  the  first,  just  below  Glendale,  of  15  feet  or  so, 
not  used,  giving  90  horsepower  most  of  the  time;  the  second,  at  Glendale,  6  miles  from  Spartanburgh,  used  by  the 
cotton  factory  of  D.  E.  Converse  &  Co.    The  dam  is  of  rock,  rebuilt  in  1879  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  and  is  300  feet  long 

774 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


115 


and  4  feet  high.  The  head-race  is  700  feet  long,  and  the  fall  35  feet,  200  horse-power  being"  utilized  by  storing  the 
water  at  night  in  a  natural  pond  half  a  mile  above,  the  factory  being  run  12  iiour*  The  pond  above  is  formed  by  a 
natural  dam,  which  crosses  the  stream.  This  dam  has  been  blasted  through  at  one  place  for  the  gates,  through  which 
the  water  is  drawn  down  during  the  day.  The  reservoir  is  half  a  mile  long,  150  feet  wide,  and  5  feet  deep,  and  is 
large  enough  to  store  all  the  water  at  low-water  stage.  This  natural  dam  affords  a  fall  of  12  feet  in  all,  which 
is  now  unimproved,  but  would  afford  one-third  the  power  at  Glendale.  According  to  my  estimates,  the  gross 
power  available  at  Glendale  would  be  210  horse-power  for  nine  months  of  an  ordinary  year  for  the  natural  flow 
■of  the  stream  and  70  horse-power  for  the  low  season,  or  140,  with  storage,  during  12  hours.  The  shipping-point 
for  Glendale  is  Spartanburgh. 

Above  Glendale  there  are  several  small  grist-mills  and  one  cotton  factory  on  the  stream,  some  with  good 
shoals,  but  the  stream  is  small. 

Thicketty  creek,  a  tributary  of  Broad  river,  enters  from  the  west  about  6  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Pacolett. 
It  drains  an  area  of  100  square  miles,  and  has  no  large  falls,  so  far  as  I  could  learn. 

Bullock's  creek  and  King's  creek,  both  from  the  east,  drain  about  72  square  miles  each,  and  offer  no  large  powers. 

Buffalo  creek,  which  rises  in  North  Carolina  and  joins  the  Broad  in  York  county,  South  Carolina,  draining  an 
area  of  178  square  miles,  is  a  tributary  of  some  importance.  It  has  a  considerable  fall,  and  is  utilized  by  a  number 
of  grist-  and  saw-mills  and  one  paper-mill.  It  will  probably  afford  at  its  mouth  about  5J  horse-power  per  foot  fall  in 
the  low  season  of  ordinary  years,  and  15  or  over  during  nine  months.    The  stream  is  only  15  feet  wide  at  its  mouth. 

FIRST  BEOAD  RIVER. 

This  tributary  rises  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  Cleaveland  and  Rutherford  counties,  North  Carolina,  and 
flows  south  through  the  former,  passing  within  three  miles  of  Shelby,  joining  the  Broad  a  mile  below  Palmer's 
shoal.  It  drains  an  area  of  302  square  miles,  and  its  fall  from  the  crossing  of  the  projected  railroad  from  Shelby 
to  Rutherfordton  is  about  105  feet,  or  at  the  rate  of  8  feet  or  more  per  mile.  The  rainfall  is  the  same  as  on  the 
Pacolett  and  Tiger.    The  width  of  the  stream  at  its  mouth  is  90  feet. 

The  first  power  on  the  river  is  Chambers'  grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  9  feet,  though  15  feet  are  said  to  be  available. 
The  stream  is  almost  as  large  here  as  at  its  mouth,  and  will  probably  afford  7  or  8  horse-power  per  foot  fall  in  the 
low  season  of  dry  years,  9  or  10  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years,  and  20  or  25  for  nine  months. 

Above  come  two  small  grist-mills,  and  then  a  third  (Loutze's),  where  there  is  said  to  be  12  feet  fall  available.  The 
next  important  power  is  at  Double  shoals,  at  the  cotton  factory  of  E.  A.  Morgan  &  Co.,  a  fall  of  8  feet  and  30  or  40 
horse-power  being  used.  It  is  said  that  double  this  amount  of  fall  rould  be  obtained  with  a  canal  400  yards  long. 
The  place  is  some  15  mdes  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  and  the  drainage  area  is  perhaps  three-fifths  what  it  is  at 
the  mouth.  There  are  other  mills  above,  and  on  a  tributary  (Knob  creek)  is  the  cotton  factory  of  Schenck, 
Ramsour  &  Co.,  with  15  feet  fall,  and  about  35  horse-power. 

SECOND  BROAD  RIVER. 

This  river,  the  next  tributary  worth  mentioning,  rises  in  McDowell  county,  and  flows  through  Rutherford  county, 
draining  an  area  of  193  square  miles.  It  is  a  small  stream,  only  30  feet  wide  at  its  mouth,  but  there  are  several 
good  powers  on  it,  viz : 

Tumbling  shoal,  3  miles  from  the  mouth,  not  now  utilized,  is  the  first,  and  it  is  said  that  a  fall  of  15  feet  could 
be  obtained,  with  good  building-sites,  in  a  distance  of  200  yards.  The  stream  would  probably  give  from  4£  to  5 
horse-power  per  foot  in  low  seasons  of  dry  years. 

High  shoal,  one  mile  above,  is  said  to  be  the  best  water-power  in  Rutherford  county.  It  is  not  now  utilized,  but 
was  formerly  used  for  iron  works.  The  fall  is  stated  to  be  29  feet  in  400  yards,  over  a  solid  rock  bed,  all  of  which 
is  available,  with  good  building-sites.  The  stream  is  about  as  large  as  at  Tumbling  shoal,  and  will  perhaps  give 
6  horse-power  per  foot  in  dry  seasons  of  ordinary  years,  and  perhaps  15  or  more  during  nine  months. 

The  "Burnt  factory",  2  miles  above,  is  the  next  site — a  very  good  one,  now  used  for  a  saw-  and  grist-mill,  with  a 
crib-dam  300  feet  long,  9  or  10  feet  high,  a  race  100  feet  long,  and  a  fall  of  14  feet,  capable  of  being  increased  to  16. 

Farther  up  the  river  are  other  shoals,  but  they  are  of  no  great  consequence,  although  in  its  upper  parts  the  fall 
of  the  stream  is  very  great. 

Shelby  is  the  nearest  railroad  point  to  all  of  the  shoals  mentioned  on  the  Broad  rivers,  being  16  miles  from 
High  shoal  and  Tumbling  shoal  and  8  miles  from  Double  shoals.  There  are  numerous  other  water-powers  in  the 
vicinity  on  smaller  streams;  thus  on  Brushy  creek,  a  tributary  of  the  First  Broad,  there  is  within  2%riles  of  Shelby 
a  fall  of  36  feet  in  600  yards,  not  improved,  said  to  be  capable  of  affording  50  horse-power  in  dry  seasons ;  and  on 
Muddy  fork,  a  tributary  to  the  Buffalo  creek,  there  is  an  unimproved  fall  of  20  feet  in  100  yards  about  a  mile 
from  its  mouth,  said  to  be  good  for  40  horse-power  in  dry  weather.  All  these  streams  have,  as  a  rule,  rock  beds 
and  good  banks,  which  are  not  often  overflowed.  They  are  subject  to  heavy  but  short  freshets.  The  soil  in  all  this 
region  is  clay  and  loam. 

The  projected  railroad  to  Rutherfordton,  the  grading  for  which  was  done  long  ago,  will  pass  nearer  to  some  of 
the  powers  which  have  been  mentioned:  for  instance,  within  3  miles  of  High  shoal.  * 

775 


116 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


.  GREEN  river. 

This,  the  last  important  tributary  of  the  Broad,  rises  in  the  mountains  of  Henderson  county,  and  flows  a 
little  north  of  east  into  Polk  county,  where  it  joins  the  Broad.  The  upper  part  of  its  course  lies  in  a  narrow 
valley,  not  over  4  miles  wide  for  20  miles  from  the  head  of  the  stream,  but  below  that  the  basin  is  much 
wider.  The  length  of  the  stream  in  a  straight  line  is  about  36  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  198  square  miles. 
It  has  a  rapid  fall,  and  considerable  power  is  available,  though  very  little  is  used.  The  bed  is  rock,  and  the 
banks  in  some  places  are  nearly  vertical  rock  walls,  while  at  others  the  river  winds  through  fertile  bottoms, 
subject  at  times,  though  not  extensively,  to  overflow,  these  bottoms  being  specially  frequent  in  the  lower  part  of 
its  course.  The  stream  is  very  inaccessible,  being  crossed  by  only  one  railroad — the  Spartanburgh  and  Asheville — 
about  16  miles  from  its  head.  The  stream  is  about  75  or  100  feet  wide  where  this  road  crosses  it,  and  90  feet  wide 
at  its  mouth. 

I  obtained  information  regarding  three  shoals  on  the  stream,  but  on  account  of  the  rapid  fall  there  are 
doubtless  other  places  where  power  could  be  obtained  by  damming.  The  lowest  point  is  at  Green  Eiver  cove, 
where  there  is  said  to  be  a  considerable  fall,  not  utilized,  extending  over  some  distance.  This  site  is  some  distance 
from  the  railroad,  and  not  easily  accessible.  Pott  shoal,  which  is  just  below  the  railroad-crossing,  is  much  more 
favorable,  and  is  said  to  be  the  best  site  on  the  river.  The  falls  commence  just  below  the  bridge,  and  continue  for 
some  distance,  the  fall  being  very  rapid,  with  now  and  then  an  abrupt  fall  of  several  feet.  The  bed  is  solid 
rock,  and  the  banks  generally  high ;  but  near  the  foot  of  the  shoal  there  is  said  to  be  a  very  good  building-site. 
The  shoal  takes  its  name  from  a  number  of  curiously  worn-out  holes  in  the  rock  forming  the  bed  of  the  streamr 
almost  circular,  and  looking  very  much  like  large  auger  holes. 

About  two  miles  above  the  railroad,  and  therefore  not  so  favorably  located  as  Pott  shoal,  are  the  falls  of  the 
Green  river,  the  third  site  above  referred  to,  and  the  only  one  I  visited  in  person.  The  fall  is  about  30  feet  iu  100, 
preceded  by  rapids  for  three-eighths  of  a  mile,  making  a  total  fall  of  over  45  feet.  The  banks  are  rocky  and  very 
steep,  so  that  building  facilities  are  not  very  good.  The  drainage  area  above  this  place  is  about  67  square  miles, 
and  the  available  power  would  perhaps  be  1  horse-power  or  a  little  over  per  foot  in  the  low  season  of  dry  years, 
and  3£  or  4  horse-power  for  nine  months  of  an  ordinary  year.  The  building  facilities  at  Pott  shoal  are  said  to  be 
much  better  than  at  these  falls,  and  the  fall  is  also  said  to  be  greater. 

THE  SALUDA  RIVER. 

The  Saluda  is  formed  on  the  boundary  between  Pickens  and  Greenville  counties,  South  Carolina,  by  the  union 
of  its  north,  south,  and  middle  forks,  whence  it  flows  southeast,  forming  the  boundary-line  between  Anderson, 
Abbeville,  and  Edgefield  counties  on  its  right,  and  Greenville,  Laurens,  and  Newberry  counties  on  its  left,  and  after 
passing  through  Lexington  county  unites  with  the  Broad  to  form  the  Congaree.  The  length  of  the  stream,  in  a 
straight  line,  is  about  110  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  2,350  square  miles.  All  its  important  tributaries  enter  from 
the  north  side,  viz :  Bush  river,  Little  river,  and  Reedy  river.  The  general  character  of  the  Saluda  is  similar  to 
that  of  the  Enoree  river  and  other  tributaries  of  the  Broad.  The  three  forks  rise  in  the  mountains,  the  north  fork 
very  near  to  the  North  Carolina  line  and  very  near  to  the  sources  of  the  Pacolett,  and  all  three  are  mountain 
streams.  Down  as  far  as  the  lower  border  of  Anderson  county  the  country  is  broken,  and  the  banks  of  the  stream 
are  generally  high,  with  few  bottoms;  below  that  the  country  is  more  open,  and  there  are  considerable  areas  of* 
bottom-laud  subject  to  overflow.  The  facilities  for  artificial  reservoirs  are  said  to  be  rather  poor,  as  on  all  the 
tributaries  of  the  Broad,  the  fall  of  the  streams  being  so  rapid.  The  bed  is  rock,  and  the  banks  iu  places  of  the 
same  material,  and  in  other  places  alluvial.  The  rainfall  in  the  basin  is  about  51  inches  (see  p.  121).  The  following 
table  will  show  approximately  the  declivity  of  the  stream : 


Place. 

Distance  from 
mouth. 

Elevation 
above  tide. 

Distance  be- 
tween points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Fall  between 
points. 

Miles. 

0 

60 
125 
135 

Feet. 

148 
383 
749 
809 

Miles. 

|      -   -   -  60 
\  ....  65 
}  -   -  -  -  * 

Feet. 

-  -    -    ■  235 

-  -   -   •  366 

-  --.  CO 

Feet  per  mile. 
■    ■    -  -3.9 
-    -    -   -   5.  6 
....    6.  0 

Crossing  of  Greenvilleltnd  Columbia  railroad  4  

The  stream  is  accessible  from  the  Greenville  and  Columbia  railroad  and  from  the  Air-line  railroad,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  map. 

The  water-powers  met  with  in  ascending  the  stream  will  now  be  described: 

At  Beard's  falls,  2  miles  above  Columbia,  is  the  factory  of  the  Saluda  Manufacturing  Company.  The  dam  is  of 
stone,  900  feet  long  and  9  feet  high,  ant'  at  the  factory  the  fall  is  from  14  to  16  feet,  the  race  being  200  feet  long.  The 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


317 


power  utilized  is  150  horse-power,  with  always  a  waste  of  water.  According  to  what  has  been  said  regarding  the 
flow  of  the  Saluda,  the  power  at  this  place  is  estimated  as  follows : 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Plow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 
1      2, 350 

Feet. 

16 

Cubic  feet, 
f  550 
700 

|       2, 100 
1  825 

1  footfall. 
62.5 
79.5 
238.6 
93.7 

16  feet  fall. 
1,000 
1,  275 
3,  800 
1,500 

The  Saluda  river  was  made  navigable  many  years  ago  by  the  state,  and  three  canals  were  constructed,  the 
lowest  one  being  around  Beard's  falls.  The  canal  was  2J  miles  long,  and  had  5  locks,  with  34  feet  lift  together, 
covering  the  fall  of  the  river  between  its  mouth  (where  there  was  a  dam  across  the  Broad,  in  the  pool  of  which  the 
boats  were  floated  over  to  the  Columbia  canal)  and  the  head  of  Lorick's  falls,  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  Saluda 
factory.  At  these  falls  there  is  a  natural  fall  in  the  river  of  about  6  feet,  and  their  head  is  27  feet  above  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  according  to  a  recent  survey,  from  which  it  follows  that  there  must  have  been  a  dam  at  the  head  nearly 
10  feet  high.  The  available,  power  at  the  mouth  of  the  Saluda  may  therefore  be  considered  as  that  due  to  a  fall  of 
from  30  to  34  feet,  and  it  is  said  that  the  old  canal  could  be  put  in  order  without  much  difficulty. 

The  next  site  above  Lorick's  falls  is  above  the  mouth  of  Twelve-Mile  creek,  at  Dreher's  canal,  the  second  state 
canal,  which  was  a  mile  long,  and  had  4  locks,  with  a  total  lift  of  21  feet.*  The  canal  was  on  the  north  side,  and  the 
power  is  used  now  to  run  a  grist-  and  saw -mill  and  a  cotton-gin,  using  falls  of  less  than  10  feet,  the  only  dam  existing 
being  a  rough  stone  wing-dam.  This  is  an  excellent  site,  and  a  fall  of  20  feet  could  probably  be  rendered  available, 
or  10  feet  with  a  canal  only  300  yards  long.  The  place  is  about  6  miles  from  Lexington,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  point.  The  drainage  area  above  being  about  2,200  square  miles,  the  available  power  may  be  estimated  for 
20  feet  fall,  as  in  the  table  on  page  121. 

Three  miles  above  this  there  was  once,  though  not  now,  a  mill.  The  next  power  is  at  Wise's  ferry,  known  as 
Hyler's  shoal.  The  total  fall  is  not  known,  but  a  fall  of  5  feet  is  utilized  by  a  grist-mill  near  the  head.  Mills  gives 
a  fall  near  Wise's  ferry  of  17  feet,  but  whether  there  is  a  fall  there  now  I  cannot  say. 

Above  that  is  a  small  shoal  known  as  Kelly's,  and  then  a  shoal  at  Hiller's  ferry,  with  a  mill  on  each  side  of  the 
river,  using,  however,  falls  of  only  a  few  feet.  The  available  fall  at  this  place  I  am  unable  to  state.  Mills  mentions 
several  shoals  above  Wise's  ferry,  in  Lexington  county,  viz:  Hunter's  ferry  (5£  feet),  shoal  (3£  feet),  Snellgrove's 
island  (9  feet),  Manning's  island,  or  Simon's  ferry  (15  feet,  and  a  little  above  15  feet  additional),  Domick's  mill  (15 
feet)  j  making  in  all,  in  Lexington  county,  a  fall  in  the  river  of  over  135  feet  in  a  distance  of  perhaps  25  to  30 
miles.  For  want  of  accurate  data  I  have  not  tabulated  these  powers,  but  it  is  evident  that  the  river  offers  a  large 
amount  of  power  in  this  distance.  Above  Hiller's  ferry  the  next  large  fall  is  said  to  be  at  Calk's  ferry,  probably 
called  Simon's  ferry  by  Mills.  There  is  a  mill  at  this  place  using  a  fall  of  5  feet,  and,  according  to  all  that  could  be 
learned,  the  fall  is  one  of  the  best  on  this  part  of  the  river. 

The  next  site  is  at  McNary's  ferry,  where  there  is  a  mill  using  a  fall  of  11  feet,  with  a  dam  4  feet  high  and  a 
race  100  feet  long.    It  is  said  to  be  a  fine  power,  with  only  a  small  fraction  utilized. 

There  was  formerly  a  mill  a  mile  or  two  below  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Saluda,  but  the  next  site  of  importance  is 
8  miles  further  up,  at  Perkins'  ford.  This  shoal  is  said  to  be  the  best  in  Newberry  and  Edgefield  counties,  and  is 
altogether  unimproved.  The  banks  are  said  to  be  favorable  for  building,  and  the  fall  was  variously  stated  at  from 
5  to  10  feet  in  half  a  mile. 

Bauknight's  mill,  one  and  a  half  miles  above,  is  said  to  be  the  site  of  the  third  canal  on  the  river,  which  had 
one  lock,  with  a  lift  of  6  feet.  The  canal  is  on  the  north  side,  while  the  mill  is  on  the  other.  Above  this  there  are 
several  small  shoals  and  small  mills.  The  river  seems  to  be  quite  sluggish  through  this  part  of  its  course  from 
Perkins'  ford  up,  and  the  banks  are  said  to  be  troublesome,  and  to  wash  out  often  at  the  dams.  The  next  important 
power,  and  the  most  important  on  this  part  of  the  stream,  is  at  Ware's  mill,  or  the  Great  falls,  above  the  mouth  of 
Reedy  river,  and  about  12  miles  from  Hodges,  the  nearest  railroad  point.    It  is  shown  in  the  following  sketch : 


*  All  statements  regarding  these  canals  are  from  Mills. 


777 


118 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Sketch  of  the  Saluda  river  at  the  Great  falls,  South  Carolina. 


The  shoal  is  a  mile  long,  and  the  fall  is,  in  all,  about  45  feet.  At  the  head  is  a  wing-dam  on  the  left  bank,  and 
a  race  half  a  mile  long  gives  a  fall  of  21  feet  at  Gaines'  saw-mill.  About  300  yards  below  the  tail-race  is  a  second 
wing-dam  on  the  right  bank,  and  a  race  300  yards  long  gives  a  fall  of  20  feet  at  Hart's  grist-  and  saw-mill.  The 
width  of  the  river  is  about  400  feet  opposite  Hart's  dam,  and  200  feet  below  the  shoals.  The  total  fall  could  not 
be  used  at  Hart's  mill  without  a  very  expensive  canal  around  bluffs.  It  could,  however,  be  used  on  the  left  bank, 
this  side  being  much  more  favorable.  The  most  convenient  location,  however,  is  on  the  left  bank,  just  below 
Gaines'  mill,  and  by  building  a  dam  where  Gaines'  wing-dam  is  now,  making  it  10  feet  high,  or  sufficient  to  back  up 

778 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


119 


over  a  shoal  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  above,  a  fall  of  35  feet  could  be  utilized  with  a  race  half  a  mile  long.  The 
bed  of  the  stream  is  solid  rock,  and  the  facilities  for  the  utilization  of  power  are,  in  all  respects,  excellent.  This  is 
one  of  the  best  powers  on  the  river.  It  is  to  be  mentioned  that  a  mile  below  the  foot  of  the  shoal  is  Robertson's 
shoal,  with  a  fall  of  3  or  4  feet,  not  of  value  for  power. 

Three  or  four  miles  above  Ware's  is  Mattox's  mill,  9  miles  below  Honea  Path.  It  is  not  an  important  power, 
the  fall  being  said  to  be  only  4  or  5  feet.  The  next  important  power  is  Erwin's  mill,  a  few  miles  from  Honea  Path, 
and  at. the  lower  border  of  Abbeville  county.  The  river  is  divided  by  two  islands,  the  total  width  being  about  200 
yards.  Across  one  of  the  arms  is  a  dam  300  feet  long  and  3  feet  high,  giving,  with  a  race  150  feet  long,  a  fall  of  8 
feet,  capable  of  being  increased  to  10  feet,  it  is  said,  by  going  farther  down. 

Above  Erwin's  come  several  small  shoals — Harper's,  Kay's,  and  Gambrell's — not  of  much  consequence,  except 
Harper's,  where  it  is  said  that  a  fall  of  8  feet  could  be  obtained.  The  next  shoal  is  opposite  Belton,  used  by.Poore 
&  Cox's  mills,  with  a  fall  of  about  8  feet,  not  capable  of  being  increased,  and  not  of  importance  for  manufacturing. 
Some  distance  above  is  a  ledge  known  as  Hamilton  Ford  shoal,  with  a  fall  of  4  feet,  which  could  be  increased  to  10 
feet — a  good  location,  and  near  the  railroad. 

Half  a  mile  above  is  Holland's  Ford  shoal,  with  a  fall  of  7  feet  in  300  yards,  which  is  not  improved.  A  canal  200 
yards  long  would  be  necessary,  and  would  not  be  expensive.  It  is  one  and  a  quarter  miles  from  the  railroad,  and  the 
amount  of  water  is  about  the  same  as  at  Piedmont  (see  beyond).  A  dam  could  be  built  8  feet  high,  giving  a  tall 
of  15  feet.  Half  a  mile  fartlier  up  is  Blackburn  Island  shoal,  not  improved,  with  a  fall  of  6  feet  in  100  yards,  not 
capable  of  being  increased  to  above  10  feet  without  backing  over  the  shoals  above.  A  canal  would  be  difficult  to 
build  on  account  of  a  high  rock  bluff.  Three-fourths  of  a  mile  above  are  the  Tripp  shoals,  not  improved,  with  a  fall 
of  8  feet  in  300  yards,  capable  of  being  increased  to  16  feet  without  backing  up  to  more  than  within  5  feet  of  the 
fall  above.  The  shoal  is  of  solid  rock,  and  a  canal  would  not  be  difficult.  The  place  is  a  favorable  one,  situated 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  Williamston,  on  the  railroad. 

One  mile  above,  at  Wilson's  ferry,  the  Pelzer  Manufacturing  Company  is  putting  up  a  cotton  factory.  The  dam 
is  of  granite,  in  cement,  250  feet  long  and  15  feet  high,  with  a  race  of  200  feet,  and  a  fall  used  of  21  feet  at  low 
water.  The  mill  is  building  for  13,000  spindles,  and  is  expected  to  be  in  operation  by  December  1,  1881.  The  site 
is  a  very  favorable  one,  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Williamston,  on  the  railroad,  and  half  a  mile  from  the  nearest 
railroad  point,  from  which  a  siding  is  to  be  run. 

Six  miles  above  is  the  factory  of  the  Piedmont  Manufacturing  Company,  but  between  this  and  the  Pelzer  mill 
is  the  Allen  shoal,  not  used,  with  a  natural  fall  of  14  feet  in  250  yards,  capable  of  being  increased  to  18  feet  without 
interfering  with  the  Piedmont  factory.  It  is  the  most  imposing  fall  on  this  part  of  the  river,  and  is  in  all  respects 
a  very  fine  site.    Bed  and  banks  are  favorable,  and  the  place  is  located  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  railroad. 

The  Piedmont  factory,  one  of  the  most  important  cotton-mills  of  the  state,  is  2  miles  above  the  Allen  shoal. 
The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  built  in  a  curve  on  a  solid  rock  foundation,  and  is  270  feet  long  and  7£  feet  high.  It 
was  first  built  in  1873,  and  raised  in  1879.  A  head-race  250  feet  long,  cut  through  stone,  gives  a  fall  of  10  feet  at. 
the  wheel.  The  power  used  is  stated  at  500  horse  power,  which  it  is  said  can  be  obtained  during  eleven  months, 
and  400  during  the  remaining  month.  In  addition  to  this,  about  20  horse-power  is  used  by  a  saw-  and  grist-mill, 
with  a  fall  of  10  feet.  The  capacity  of  this  factory  is  at  present  being  increased,  and  it  is  intended  to  use  800 
horse-power,  which  it  is  expected  to  obtain  during  eleven  months,  and  700  the  other  month;  the  fall  is  at  the  same, 
time  increased  to  20  feet  by  raising  the  dam  to  a  height  of  11 J  feet.  No  steam-power  is  used.  It  is  to  be  remarked 
that  here,  as  well  as  at  all  the  other  sites  on  this  part  of  the  Saluda,  the  conformation  of  the  banks  is  such  that  large 
ponds  are  not  formed,  and  the  natural  flow  of  the  stream  is  all  that  can  be  utilized.  When  the  mills  are  not  running 
water  flows  over  the  dam. 

The  drainage  area  of  the  stream  above  Piedmont  was  measured  from  the  map  and  found  to  be  about  380 
square  miles.   The  rainfall  is  56  inches.    Reasoning  by  analogy,  I  would  therefore  estimate  the  power  as  follows : 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

1 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Sq.  miles. 
380 

Feet. 
20 

Cubic  feet. 

1  105 
425 

I  125 

1  foot  fall. 

8.0 
12.0 
48.3 
14.2 

20  feet  fall. 

160 
240 
970 
284 

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage  

Low  season,  dry  years  

I  have  made  these  estimates  larger  than  those  for  Mountain  shoal  on  the  Enoree,  and  others  in  the 
neighborhood,  because  the  Saluda  extends  farther  into  the  mountains,  and  the  rainfall  is  greater.  I  have  even 
made  them  large  in  proportion  to  the  other  estimates  for  the  Saluda,  and  the  latter  estimates  may  be,  in  fact,  too 
small.* 


*  Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  observed  that  in  the  statistics  of  cotton-mills  for  the  state  of  South  Carolina,  according  to  the 
present  census,  the  power  used  at  the  Piedmont  factory  is  stated  at  320  horse-power. 

779 


120 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


According  to  the  above  table,  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years  about  350  horse-power  could  be  depended 
upon,  and  probably  800  to  1,000  during  nine  months.  The  Piedmont  factory  has  been  nominally  using  over  400 
horse-power  at  all  times.  I  incline  to  think  that  the  power  actually  used  is  hardly  so  large,  but  the  result  must 
once  more  show  that  the  estimates  of  power  given,  although  as  accurate  as  I  am  able  to  make  them  with  the  data 
at  hand,  must  be  taken  as  approximations  only. 

Above  Piedmont  is  a  small  shoal,  where  there  was  once  a  grist-mill;  but  the  fall  is  only  4  or  5  feet,  and  it  is  of 
no  importance. 

The  next  is  the  Blasingame  shoal,  5  miles  from  Greenville.  It  is  said  to  have  considerable  fall,  but  to  be  hard  to 
develop. 

Harrison  shoal,  6  miles  from  Greenville,  which  has  never  been  used,  is  the  next.  It  is  said  to  have  a  small  fall, 
and  to  be  of  no  importance  for  manufacturing. 

The  last  shoal  on  the  main  stream  is  at  Farr's  mills,  also  6  miles  from  Greenville.  It  is  utilized  by  a  saw-  and 
grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  7  feet,  using  only  20  or  30  horse-power  probably.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  300  feet 
long  and  5  feet  high,  and  the  head-race  is  200  feet  long.    It  is  said  that  the  fall  could  be  increased  to  some  extent. 


Summary  of  power  on  the  Saluda  river. 


Locality. 

• 

Distance 

from 
mouth. 

Drainage 
area. 

Rainfall. 

Total  fall. 

Horse-power  available,  gross.  * 

Utilized. 

Percentage  of  mini- 
mum utilized. 

Remarks. 

1 

CC 

u 

a 

ea 

In. 
13 
13 
13 
14 

— 

In. 
9 
9 

10 

10 

.9 

£ 

u 

es 

6 

w 

4 

So 

s 
>-I 

Minimum. 

Minimum  low 
season. 

Maximum,  with 
storage. 

Low  season,  dry 
years. 

Horse-power,  net. 

"3 
ft 

■  <•  tiro. 
1  0 
2.  5 

10.  0 
14.0 

2  350 

2,350 
2,  200 
2, 200 

In. 
13 
13 
14 
14 

In. 
16 
16 
16 
16 

In. 
51 
51 
53 
54 

Feet. 
16 
34 

20 

17  (?) 
5-6  (?) 
9(?) 
30  (?) 
15  (?) 

1,  000 

2,  MO 
1, 150 

1,275 
2, 700 
1, 500 

3, 800 
8, 100 
4, 400 

1, 500 
3,200 
1, 750 

150 
150 

50- 

15 
0 

50- 

30- 

Feet. 
16 
16 
3-9 
5 
0 

20 
10 
5- 

Bam,  9  feet. 

Dam,  15  feet. 
Dam,  11.5  feet. 

Dam,  5  feet. 

Hyler's  shoal  

2.  5  miles. 
1  mile . . . 

0 

5 
11 
0 
0 

Small . 
39 

0 
0 

Small . 
50— 

0 
0 

5-10  (?) 
6 
55 
4-5 
8-10 
8-10  (?) 
8 
t4 
t7 

te 

t8 

21 

tl4 

20 

4-5 

Great  falls  

Mattox's  mill  

65  ± 
69  ± 

635 
600 
523 

15 

14 

10 

16 

55 

1. 25  mile 

800 
60± 
120  ± 

1, 000 
75± 
150  ± 

4,  000 
300  ± 
600  ± 

1, 200 
90± 
175  ± 

5 

Erwin's  mill  

0 

0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 

J  0) 
0 

(?) 

0 
0 
0 

20-30 

0 

0 
0 
0 

U) 

0 

20 

0 
0 

7 

0 

0 
0 
0 

u> 

0  - 

(?) 

0 
0 
0 

900  feet 
300  feet 

Blackburn's  Island  shoal. 

900  feet 

Pelzer  Manufacturing 

Company-. 
Allen  shoal  

400 

400 

380 

15 

14 

10 

16 

55 

600  feet . 

Piedmont  Manufactur- 
ing Company. 

160 

240 

S70 

284 

Farr's  mills  

275 

1 

*  See  pages  18  to  21.  t  Without  dam.  t  Not  yet  running. 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  SALUDA  RIVER. 

Twelve-Mile  creek  is  the  first  stream  worth  mentioning  in  this  connection.  It  enters  the  Saluda  from  the  south 
a  few  miles  above  the  Saluda  factory,  and  drains  an  area  of  93  square  miles,  entirely  in  Lexington  county.  It  is  to 
some  extent  a  sand-hill  stream,  not  very  variable  in  flow,  and  it  is  utilized  for  a  number  of  saw-  and  grist-mills, 
with  falls  of  from  7  to  12  feet.  The  stream  is  said  by  those  acquainted  with  it  to  afford  near  its  mouth  about  5 
horse-power  per  foot  most  of  the  time.  It  flows  by  the  town  of  Lexington,  in  the  neighborhood  of  which  there  are 
two  sites  not  utilized,  said  to  be  the  only  ones  of  any  importance  on  the  stream.  Close  by  the  town  is  a  grist-mill, 
with  a  fall  of  10  or  12  feet,  and  just  below  it  is  a  fall  of  about  14  feet  in  half  a  mile.  Just  above  the  mill  is  the 
site  of  the  old  Laurel  Fall  factory,  now  used  by  a  grist-mill,  which,  however,  only  utilizes  a  small  part  of  the  power. 
The  first  site  referred  to  is  a  good  one,  and  could  be  combined  with  the  one  occupied  by  the  mill,  giving  a  total  fall 
of  between  20  and  30  feet.    The  stream  here  is  not  over  half  as  large  as  it  is  at  its  mouth. 

780 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED.  121 

Little  Saluda  creek,  from  the  south,  is  the  next  tributary  of  note.  It  drains  about  297  square  miles,  and  joins 
the  main  stream  at  Wise's  ferry.  Its  water-power,  however,  is  not  of  much  importance,  and  its  flow  is  quite 
variable.   There  are  a  few  small  grist-mills  on  the  stream  and  its  tributaries,  but  it  is  not  favorable  for  power. 

Bush  river,  which  rises  in  Laurens  county,  and  enters  the  Saluda  just  below  Perkins'  ford,  in  Newberry 
county,  drains  an  area  of  105  square  miles,  and  has  considerable  fall  and  some  sites  not  used,  but  the  powers  are 
all  small.    The  stream  is  quite  variable  in  flow,  and  the  mills  have  to  stop  in  summer. 

Little  river,  which  rises  in  Laurens  county  and  flows  nearly  parallel  to  Bush  river,  drains  about  220  square 
miles,  but  is  sluggish,  and  has  no  power  of  importance. 

The  only  other  tributary  below  the  forks  worth  mentioning  is  Beedy  river,  which  rises  in  Greenville  county, 
flows  southeast  into  Laurens,  and  enters  the  Saluda  several  miles  below  the  Great  falls,  after  draining  an  area  of 
about  386  square  miles.  The  length  of  the  stream,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  50  miles,  and  it  receives 
one  tributary  worth  mentioning,  Beaburn's  creek,  which  drains  105  square  miles.  The  river  flows  through  the 
town  of  Greenville,  and  offers  a  large  amount  of  power,  being  shoaly  for  its  entire  length.  The  map  shows  the 
form  and  dimensions  of  the  drainage-basin.  The  rainfall  is  about  53  inches  on  the  entire  basin:  15  in  spring,  13 
in  summer,  9  in  autumn,  and  16  in  winter.  The  fall  of  the  stream  is  considerable,  and  much  greater  than  that  of  the 
Saluda,  its  elevation  at  Greenville,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Air-line  railroad,  being  929  feet,  while  that  of  the  Saluda 
is  809  feet,  and  that  of  the  Enoree  842  feet,  at  the  points  where  the  same  road  crosses  them.  The  bed  of  the  stream 
is  rocky,  and  the  banks  in  some  places  high  and  rocky,  and  in  others  low  and  alluvial.  It  is  said  that  the  bottoms 
on  the  Beedy  river  are  more  extensive  than  on  the  Saluda  above  the  junction  of  the  two,  but  the  fall  of  the  stream 
is  so  rapid  that  they  are  not  often  overflowed.  The  stream  is  not  very  accessible  in  some  parts,  the  nearest 
railroad  points  being  Greenville  and  Laurens,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  map. 

The  shoals  and  mills  on  the  streams  are  as  follows,  in  their  order  ascending : 

Washington's  mill,  grist  and  flour,  with  a  small  fall  of  4£  fyet  or  so.  I  would  estimate  the  flow  and  power  of 
the  stream  at  its  mouth  as  in  the  following  table : 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power, 
gross. 

Sq.  milet. 
386 

Cubic  feet. 

f  62 
82 

400 

I  97 

Per  foot. 

7.0 
9.4 
45.4 

n.o 

This  mill,  however,  is  probably  above  the  mouth  of  Beaburn's  creek,  which  enters  Beedy  river  about  3  miles 
above  its  mouth,  so  that  the  stream  is  considerably  smaller  than  at  its  mouth. 

Next  comes  a  grist-mill  with  5£  feet  fall;  then  a  shoal  not  used,  said  to  have  a  fall  of  about  the  same  amount; 
then  Boyd's  shoal,  used  by  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  with  about  8  feet  fall;  then  a  long  shoal,  2  or  3  miles  long,  not 
improved,  said  to  be  a  good  site,  and  once  used  by  a  small  mill. 

Then  comes  Tumbling  shoal,  about  16  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  12  miles  from  Laurens,  and  27  miles 
below  Greenville.  The  shoal  is  short,  and  the  fall  amounts  to  10  feet  in  75.  Here  is  a  grist-mill  using  a  fall  of  10  feet 
and  about  50  horse-power.  The  drainage  area  above  the  place  is  about  198  square  miles,  and  I  would  estimate  the 
gross  power  at  about  34  horse-power  (minimum),  45  horse-power  (minimum  low  season),  53  horse-power  (low  season, 
dry  years),  and  60  to  70  horse-power  during  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years.  There  is  little  storage  during  the 
night.   The  present  mill  uses  all  the  power  in  dry  seasons. 

The  next  shoal  is  Cedar  falls,  though  below  it  there  used  to  be  a  tannery  and  grist-mill  using  a  small  fall.  The 
fall  at  Cedar  falls  was  stated  at  about  20  feet,  of  which  14  or  16  feet  are  used  by  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  and  a  cotton 
factory.  The  power  used  I  do  not  know.  There  is  no  dam  at  all,  and  the  mills  are  on  both  sides  of  the  stream. 
The  drainage  area  above  this  place  is  about  150  square  miles. 

One  mile  above  it  is  Fork  shoal,  at  the  mouth  of  Beedy  Fork  creek,  and  about  16  miles  from  Greenville.  There 
is  a  dam  across  both  streams ;  that  across  the  creek  is  110  feet  by  3,  ponds  over  10  acres,  and  at  one  end  of  it  is 
situated  the  cotton-mill,  using  20  feet  fall  and  40  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  during  about  ten  months, 
there  being  no  waste  in  summer,  except  at  night ;  that  across  the  river  is  125  feet  by  2,  and  at  one  end  of  it  is  the 
grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  7  feet,  and  using  about  25  horse-power.  The  drainage  area  above  this  shoal  is  about  140 
square  miles. 

It  will  be  sufficient  to  mention  simply  the  other  shoals  and  mills,  with  one  or  two  exceptions : 
Harrison's  grist-mill,  about  10  feet  fall. 
Houff's  mill  (grist  and  saw),  10  feet  fall. 

Log  shoal,  14  feet  fall,  with  a  2-foot  dam;  used  by  a  saw-  and  grist-mill. 
Ashmore's  grist-mill,  10  feet  fall. 
Linderman  shoal,  not  used;  small  fall. 

781 


122  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Eeedy  Biver  Manufacturing  Company,  one  and  a  half  miles  above.  The  dam  is  of  wood,  225  by  5  feet,. the  fall 
22  feet,  and  125  horse  power  is  used  during  ten  months  and  100  horse-power  the  rest  of  the  time.  The  drainage  area 
is  87  square  miles,  and  I  would  therefore  estimate  the  power  at  about  the  same  as  on  the  Enoree  at  Pelham  (see 
page  111). 

Jones'  paper-mill  and  saw-mill,  11 J  feet  fall ;  50  hOrse-power  during  twelve  months. 
Parkins'  grist-mill,  11  feet  fall ;  said  to  be  capable  of  increase  by  raising  the  dam. 
Greene  shoal,  not  used ;  very  small — valueless. 
Saw-mill  shoal,  not  used ;  8  or  9  feet  fall. 

Oamperdown  mills,  at  Greenville.  The  fall  here  is  the  most  important  on  the  stream,  amounting  to  64  feet  in 
500  yards,  over  a  layer  of  gneiss-rock.  The  fall  is  used  in  two  parts.  The  upper  part  is  used  on  the  left  bank  by 
Camperdown  mill  No.  2,  and  on  the  right  bank  by  a  machine-shop  and  box-factory,  both  using  a  fall  of  32  feet. 
The  dam  is  of  timber  bolted  to  the  rock,  60  feet  long  and  3  feet  high,  making  scarcely  any  pond;  the  race  is  325 
feet  long,  and  the  power  used  about  245  horse-power,  which,  however,  can  only  be  obtained  for  six.  months  of  the 
year.  The  factory  uses  225  horse-power.  The  lower  fall  of  32  feet  is  used  on  the  right  bank  by  the  Oamperdown 
mill  No.  1,  with  a  triangular  wooden  frame  dam  105  feet  long  and  14  feet  high,  bolted  to  the  rock  and  planked  over, 
and  built  in  1875  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  It  ponds  the  water  up  to  the  tail-race  of  the  upper  factory,  about  300  yards, 
and  the  head-race  is  165  feet  long.  The  power  used  is  160  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  nine  months  of  the 
year.  This  mill  uses  steam-power  in  dry  seasons  to  the  extent  of  160  horse-power,  while  the  upper  mill  uses  up  to> 
200  horse-power  steam,  the  machine-shop  using  none. 

Just  above  the  upper  mill  is  Cox  &  Markley's  carriage  factory,  using  about  12  horse-power,  with  a  fall  of  8  feet 
and  a  4-foot  dam,  and  utilizing  all  the  water  during  the  day-time  in  dry  weather.  The  ponds  are  not  large  enough 
to  store  the  water  during  the  night,  but  just  above  the  railroad  crossing  in  Greenville  there  is  said  to  be  a  good  site 
for  a  storage-reservoir,  where  a  14-foot  dam  would^low  800  to  1,000  acres,  allowing  the  power  at  the  mills  below  to 
be  increased  to  a  considerable  extent. 

The  drainage  area  of  the  stream  above  Greenville  is  only  44  square  miles,  and  there  are  no  falls  above.  It  is 
evident  that  for  such  a  small  stream  the  Eeedy  river  offers  a  large  amount  of  power,  which  is  well  utilized.  There 
are  shoals  on  some  of  its  tributaries,  but  the  powers  are  small.  Laurel  creek,  which  comes  in  above  Ashmore's,  has 
a  shoal  not  used ;  and  Eeaburn's  creek,  a  large  stream,  has  one  good  shoal  about  nine  miles  from  Laurens,  with  a  fall 
of  26  feet  over  a  solid  rock  ledge,  used  by  Goodgion's  grist-  and  saw-mills.  Less  than  a  mile  above,  on  the  same 
stream,  is  the  old  Fuller  factory-site,  now  used  by  a  saw-  and  grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  14  feet. 

It  remains  to  say  a  few  words  about  the  three  forks  of  the  Saluda. 

The  North  fork  drains  an  area  of  about  56  square  miles,  and  is  a  mountain  stream,  like  the  north  fork  of  the 
Pacolett,  with  a  rapid  fall,  but  small  volume  of  water.  It  has  at  one  place  a  perpendicular  fall,  over  a  gneiss  ledge, 
of  between  200  and  300  feet,  and  at  another  place  a  similar  fall  not  quite  so  high.  The  stream  unites  with  the 
Middle  fork,  which  drains  66  square  miles,  and  below  the  junction,  about  13  miles  from  Greenville,  there  is  one 
grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  9  feet  over  a  rock  shoal.  A  mile  below  is  a  shoal  not  used,  with  12  feet  fall ;  and  there  are 
doubtless  numerous  other  places  where  power  could  be  obtained.  On  the  Middle  fork  itself  there  is  one  grist-mill, 
16  miles  from  Greenville,  with  a  fall  of  18  feet,  which  could  probably  be  increased  by  raising  the  dam.  It  is  said 
to  be  an  excellent  small  power.  The  dam  is  5  feet  high,  200  feet  long,  and  the  head-race  is  of  the  same  length.  The 
mill  is  not  in  use  at  present,  and  the  dam  is  out  of  repair.  This  site  is  situated  about  a  mile  above  the  junction  of 
the  two  forks. 

The  South  fork  has  a  very  rapid  fall,  and  numerous  shoals  which  might  be  utilized,  but  with  small  volume  of 
water  and  inaccessible  locations.  All  the  headwaters  abound  in  cataracts  and  precipitous  falls,  many  of  several 
hundred  feet  almost  vertical.   The  drainage  area  of  this  fork  is  78  square  miles  or  thereabout. 

Finally,  the  large  amount  of  space  which  it  has  been  necessary  to  devote  to  the  Santee  river  and  its  tributaries 
shows  that  the  drainage-basin  abounds  in  the  finest  kind  of  water-powers.  It  would  be  difficult  to  select  another 
stream  of  equal  drainage  area  which  can  offer  so  large  a  number  of  excellent  powers,  from  the  smallest  to  the 
largest.  From  the  great  falls  of  the  Catawba,  with  a  fall  of  173  feet,  to  the  numberless  hue  small  powers  on  the 
smaller  streams  in  western  South  Carolina,  the  range  is  large,  and  offers  powers  of  all  scales  of  magnitude;  and  as 
the  manufacturing  interest  in  the  South  develops,  there  is  no  doubt  that  many  of  the  fine  powers  now  lying  idle  will 
be  turned  to  account.  Hand  in  hand  with  this  development  will  go  the  construction  of  railroads,  until  the  southern 
streams  become,  like  many  of  the  northern  ones,  a  succession1  of  mill-ponds,  with  all  kinds  of  manufactures  on 
their  banks,  and  the  country  becomes  threaded  with  a  network  of  railroads  and  studded  with  factory  villages. 

782 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  of  utilized  power  on  the  Santee  river  and  tributaries. 


123 


Name  of  stream. 


Santee   

Tributaries  below  forks. 
"Wateree  (Catawba)  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do...  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  to  

Do  

•  Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

South  fork  Catawba.  . . . 

Do  .  

A*'  Do  

I*?  too  

Do  

Do  t  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  to  

Do  

?l  .  Do  

P>  Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do...  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  to  what. 


Atlantic  

Santee  

....do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do   

"Wateree  

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

Catawba  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do   

...  do  

...do   

...do  ..:  

...do   

...do   

...do  .... 

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

.-•-.do  

...do  

South  fork  Catawba. 

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  

'...do  

...do  

...do  

.."..do  

...do   

....do  

Catawba  

....do  

...do  

....do  

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do   


State. 


South  Carolina. . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina.. 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  ." 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

South  Carolina. . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina. 
 do  


.do  . 
.do 
.do  . 
.do 
.do . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do. 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
-do  . 
.do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 


County. 


Kershaw  

Chester  

Lancaster  

York  

Mecklenburg . 

Gaston  

...do  

...do  

Iredell  

...do  

Catawba  

...do  

Alexander   

Caldwell  

...do  


.do  .. 


Burke  

McDowell  — 

Sumter  

.."..do  

Kershaw  

...do   

Fairfield  , 

Chester  

...do   

...do  

Lancaster  

York  

...do   

...do   

Mecklenburg. 

...do   

Gaston  

...do   

...do   

Lincoln  

...do   

...do   

...do  

Catawba  

...do   

Gaston  

...do  

Lincoln  

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do   

Catawba  

...do   

...do   

...do   

Gaston  

...do   

...do   

...do   

Lincoln  

...do  

...do   

...do   

Catawba  

.do  

...do  

...do  


Kind  of  mill. 


Flour  and  grist  

...do  

....do  

...do  

...do   

...do   

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Carriage  and  wagon  factory. 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  '. . 

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Paper  

Chair  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Leather  works  

Milhvrighting  

Flour  and  grist  

Woolen  

Iron  casting,  etc  

Blomaries  and  forges  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  


Blomaries  and  forges. 
"Woolen  


Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Blomaries  and  forges. 
Miscellaneous  


Number  of  mills. 

Total  fall  used. 

Total  horse  -power 
used,  net. 

Feet. 

0 

0.0 

0 

0 

0.0 

0 

1 

7.0 

20 

1 

18.0 

25 

1 

4.0 

20 

4 

30.0 

86 

3 

11.0 

55 

2 

19.0 

30 

1 

9.0 

13 

1 

22.0 

195 

1 

15.0 

15 

2 

32.0 

40 

1 

6.0 

16 

2 

12.5 

80 

1 

3.0 

6 

1 

9.0 

20 

2 

21.0 

30 

1 

9.0 

10 

3 

39.0 

56 

2 

23.0 

32 

8 

45+ 

74 

2 

13.0 

25 

12 

89+ 

170 

3 

29.0 

70 

2 

33.0 

16 

9 

116+ 

172 

1 

18.0 

7 

2 

39.5 

5 

40+ 

85 

14 

189.5 

304 

6 

06.  0 

180 

1 

10.0 

12 

14 

194.0 

206 

8 

114.0 

78 

5 

64.0 

425 

5 

61.0 

64 

2 

17.0 

20 

2 

21.0 

270 

1 

8.0 

50 

2 

10.  0 

00 

1 

6.5 

50 

3 

52.0 

37 

3 

30.0 

34 

8 

128.0 

122 

4 

68.0 

100 

8 

131.5 

113 

3 

32.0 

35 

5 

48.0 

44 

3 

52.0 

28 

1 

18.0 

15 

4 

60.0 

47 

1 

8.0 

8 

1 

10.0 

20 

1 

30 

1 

8.0 

50 

3 

40.0 

34 

2 

28.0 

19 

1 

20.0 

10 

6 

71.5 

60 

4 

36.0 

33 

1 

13.0 

40 

1 

12 

7 

125.0 

110 

3 

34.0 

30 

1 

12.0 

20 

3 

45.0 

23 

124 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Table  of  utilised  poicer  on  the  Santee  river  and  tributaries — Continued. 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributaries  to  . 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Congaree  

Do  

Tributaries  of. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Broad  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Enoree  river... 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of . 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tiger  river  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  . 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Pacolett  river. . 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  to  what. 


Catawba. 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
Santee — 
...do  .... 
Congaree. 
...do  .... 

...do   

...do  .... 

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

Broad  

...do  

. .  .do  

...do   

...do  .... 

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

Enoree  . . . 

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

Broad  

...do   

...do  

Tiger  

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  .... 

...do   

...do  .... 

Broad  

...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
....do  .... 
....do  .... 
Pacolett . 
...do  .... 
....do  .... 
....do  .... 
....do.  ... 
....do  .... 
....do  .... 


State. 


North  Carolina  . 

 do  

 do  

 do  -  i  

 do  

 do  


County. 


Alexander. 

...do  

...  do  

Caldwell. . . 

...do   

...do  


.do  j  Burke . 

do  I  do  . 

.do   do  . 


 do  

 do  

South  Carolina. 
 do  


 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do   

 do 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina. 

 do  4. 

 do  

South  Carolina.. 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


McDowell  

....do  

Bichland  

....do   

...%a  

....do   

Lexington  

...do   

 do  

...do  

...do  

....do  

Fairfield  

Chester  

Union  

Cleaveland  

Butherford  

....do   

Newberry  

Union  

Spartanburgh . 

Laurens  

...do   


do   Greenville  . 


.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do 
.do  . 
..do 
.do 
..do 
..do 
..do 


...do  

...do  

...do  

. .  do  

Newberry  

Laurens   

Greenville  

...do  

...do   

Spartanburgh. 

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do  

Union  

...do   

Greenville  

...do  

Union  

....do   

Spartanburgh. 
....do   

...do   

 do  

....do   

...do  

...do  

....do   

....do   

....do   

Greenville  


Kind  of  mill. 


Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton  factory . . . 
Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

"Woolen  

Flour  and  grist.. 

Saw  

"Woolen  

Flour  and  grist.. 

"Woolen  

Flour  and  grist . 

"Water- works  

Flour  and  grist.. 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist.. 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Cotton  factory. . . 
Flour  and  grist.. 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist.. 

...do  

..do  

...do   

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist. . 

...do   

...do   

...do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 
Cotton  factory . . 

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do  

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Cotton  factory. . 
Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

...do   

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton  factory . . 
Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton  factory  *. 

"Woolen  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Leather  

Cotton  factory . . 

"Woolen  

Flour  and  grist . 


Number  of  mills. 

Total  fall  used. 

Total  horse-power 
used,  net. 

Feet. 

10 

115.0 

153 

4 

58.0 

02 

1 

12.  0 

20 

13 

250.0 

157 

7 

104.0 

155 

1 

6.0 

13 

213+ 

255 

4 

60  + 

55 

2 

16  0 

28 

9 

133.0 

92 

2 

16+ 

20 

2 

21.0 

70 

1 

12.0 

40 

8 

77.0 

77 

3 

32.0 

.  35 

5 

41.0 

57 

6 

52.0 

55 

1 

4.0 

10 

1 

12.0 

40 

3 

23.0 

70 

1 

10.0 

10 

1 

15.0 

30 

1 

8.0 

15 

2 

25.0 

40 

2 

16.0 

22 

2 

38.0 

24 

1 

20.  0 

15 

1 

4.5 

15 

1 

3.0 

8 

3 

40.0 

42 

6 

78.0 

123 

2 

25.0 

30 

2 

21.0 

11 

1 

20.0 

20 

5 

79.0 

67 

1 

18.0 

60 

1 

15.0 

8 

1 

9.0 

16 

4 

63.1 

56 

•  7 

122,0 

70 

7 

106.0 

50 

1 

48.  0 

48 

5 

80.0 

73 

1 

9.0 

18 

4 

69.0 

32 

4 

70.0 

38 

16 

294.0 

198 

7 

105.  0 

74 

1 

17.0 

35 

3 

58.0 

24 

1 

6.0 

8 

1 

25.0 

18 

6 

95.0 

80 

3 

16.0 

28 

1 

4.0 

10 

1 

'  10.0 

15 

2 

18,0 

44 

1 

1 

11.0 

'  %* 

9 

136.0 

165 

10 

133.0 

145 

5 

75.0 

60 

1 

18.0 

10 

3 

280 

2 

20+ 

20 

2 

33.0 

28 

1  Being  built. 


734 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 
Table  of  utilized  power  on  the  Santee  river  and  tributaries— Continued. 


125 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Other  tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  , 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  f.  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Saluda  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  : 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Reedy  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  , 

Do  

Beedy  and  tributaries 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Broad  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

..  do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

Congaree  . 

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do  ..... 

...do   

Saluda  . . . 

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

Ktedy  

...do  

...do   

Saluda  

...do   

...do  .... 

...do  

...do  

...  do  

...do  

...do*... 

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  .... 

....do  

...  do   

....do  .... 


South  Carolina . . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

North  Carolina 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  •-, 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

South  Carolina. 

 do  

 do  

.....do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

.....do  

 do   

.....do   

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do   

 do  

 do   

 do  

 do  

 do  

,  do  

 do  

 do  

.....do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


Lexington  . 
Newberry  .. 

Union  

Fairfield.... 

...do  

Chester  

York  

...do  

Cleaveland. 
...  do  ....... 

...do   

...do   

...do   

Polk  

...do  

Rutherford 
...do  


..do  . 
..do*. 


...do   

McDowell  . 
<  'Lexington . 

..do  

Greenville . 

...do   

Edgefield  .. 
Abbeville. . 

...do   

Anderson  . 

...do  

Pickens  

...do   

Laurens  ... 

...do   

Greenville  . 

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do   

Laurens  ... 

...do  

...do   

Lexington  . 

...do  

...do  

Newberry  . 

...do   

...do   

Laurens  . . . 
Greenville . 
Edgefield  . . 
Abbeville. . 
Anderson. . 

...do   

Pickens  

...do   

...do   

...do   


Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

...do  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Paper  , 

Cotton  factory . . 
Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Woolen  

Leather  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do  

Cotton  factory . . 
Flour  and  grist  . 
Cotton  factory. . 
Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Saw  : . . 

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton  factory . . 
Wagon  factory  . 

Box  factory  

Blacksmithing. . 

Paper  

Flour  and  grist . 
Cotton  factory . . 

Woolen  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Leather  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Brick  and  tile.. . 
Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist . 

....do  

...do  

...do  

...do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Woolen  


2 
1 
5 
2 
1 
3 
14 
3 

16 
10 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 

18 
4 

1 
1 
1 
4 

5 
1 
4 
1 
3 
5 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
7 
2 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 

20 
1 
1 
4 
3 
1 
8 
5 
3 
2 
1 
6 
4 
1 
8 
1 
4 
3 
6 
5 
2 
4 
2 

11 
5 

10 
2 


1012  W  P— VOL  16  50 


785 


126 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


VIII.— THE  EDISTO  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  EDISTO  EIVEE. 

The  streams  flowing  into  the  Atlantic  between  the  Santee  and  the  Savannah  are,  in  general,  valueless  as  sources 
of  water-power,  only  one  of  them,  the  Edisto  river,  being  worthy  of  mention.  They  rise  for  the  most  part  below 
the  fall -line,  flow  through  a  low  and  swampy  country,  and  are  entirely  without  power,  except  on  some  of  their  small 
upper  branches,  which  belong  to  the  class  of  sand-hill  streams.  The  Edisto  river,  however,  rises  farther  inland 
than  the  others  (both  of  its  forks  having  their  sources  in  Edgefield  county,  above  the  fall-line),  and  some  of  its 
branches  are  worthy  of  mention.  Although  these  streams  cross  the  fall-line,  there  are  no  falls  of  importance  on 
them  so  far  as  I  could  learn,  or,  if  there  are,  they  occur  where  the  streams  are  very  small.  The  greater  part  of  the 
course  of  the  Edisto  lies  in  a  swampy  country,  and  has  no  water-power;  but  on  the  north  fork  and  its  tributaries, 
and  especially  on  the  south  fork  and  one  of  its  branches  (Shaw's  creek),  there  is  considerable  available  power. 
Shaw's  creek  belongs  to  the  class  of  sand-hill  streams,  and  drains  an  area  of  about  119  square  miles,  uniting  with 
Eocky  creek,  which  drains  an  area  of  195  square  miles,  to  form  the  south  fork  of  the  Edisto.  My  information 
regarding  these  streams  is  necessarily  very  meager.  They  are  utilized  to  some  extent  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and 
could  doubtless  be  made  to  afford  considerable  power,  their  flow  being  probably  from  one-half  to  one  cubic  foot  per 
second  per  square  mile,  with  facilities,  generally,  for  storing  the  water  during  the  night.  Shaw's  creek  has  been 
used  in  half  a  dozen  places,  and  it  has  been  considered  a  better  and  larger  stream  than  Horse  creek,  described 
further  on.    It  is  said  to  be  even  more  constant  than  Horse  creek,  but  its  fall  is  probably  less. 

These  streams  are  no  doubt  worthy  of  attention  as  regards  power,  although  I  can  give  no  information  regarding 
particular  sites. 

Table  of  power  utilized  on  the  Edisto  river  and  tributaries. 


Stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Tributary  to. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Edisto . 
. . .  .do  . . 

...do  .. 
...  do  .. 

...do  .. 
....do  .. 

...do  .. 

...do  .. 

...do  .. 

...do  .. 
....do  . 

...do  . 
....do  .. 


South  Carolina. 

 ..do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


Barnwell  

...do   

. .  do  

Orangeburgh 

....do   

....do  

Aiken  

...do   

....do   

....do   

Edgefield .... 
Lexington  . . . 
...do   


Saw  

Elour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Elour  and  grist  

Stone  and  earthen  ware. 

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Elour  and  grist  

 do  

Saw  


16 

1 
17 

4 

2* 

4 


IX. — THE  SAVANNAH  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  SAVANNAH  EIYEE. 

The  Savannah  river,  which  constitutes  for  its  entire  length  the  boundary-line  between  the  states  of  South  Carolina 
and  Georgia,  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Tugaloo  and  the  Seneca  rivers,  both  of  which  streams  rise  in  the  Blue 
Eidge,  in  the  southern  part  of  North  Carolina,  uniting  on  the  line  between  Anderson  county,  South  Carolina,  and 
Hart  county,  Georgia.  The  Savannah  pursues  a  nearly  straight  course  to  the  ocean  in  a  southeasterly  direction, 
its  length  being  about  180  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  about  355  miles  by  the  course  of  the  river.  The  upper  part 
of  the  stream  is  more  nearly  straight  than  the  lower,  the  distance  between  Augusta  and  the  head  of  the  river  being 
about  85  miles  in  a  straight  line  and  107. J  by  the  river.  The  stream  crosses  the  fall-line  at  Augusta,  which  is  the 
only  important  town  on  the  river,  and  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation. 

786 


• 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


127 


As  will  be  seen  from  the  map,  the  drainage-basin  of  the  river  is  long  and  narrow,  ^[ts  total  area  is  between 
ten  and  eleven  thousand  square  miles,  the  maps  differing  to  such  a  degree  that  it  is  impossible  to  determine  it 
accurately.  That  part  above  the  fall-line,  or  the  head  of  the  Augusta  canal,  measures  about  6,850  square  miles- 
Below  that  point  the  only  water-power  in  the  basin  is  on  some  tributary  creeks,  some  of  which  are  true  sand-hill 
streams.  Above  Augusta  there  is  considerable  power  on  the  river  itself  and  on  its  principal  tributaries,  viz : 
Broad,  Little,  and  Eocky  rivers  (the  last  two  from  South  Carolina),  which  drain  respectively  1,500,  530,  and  240 
square  miles,  as  well  as  on  the  Tugaloo  and  Seneca,  which  drain  respectively  870  and  908  square  miles.  Of  the  107£ 
miles  between  Augusta  and  the  head  of  the  river  28J  miles  are  occupied  by  shoals.  The  general  character  of  the 
drainage-basin  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Santee,  Congaree,  and  Broad  rivers.  The  rainfall  is  about  50  inches, 
distributed  as  follows:  spring,  13;  summer,  13;  autumn,  10;  winter,  14.  It  varies  from  44  inches  and  less  below 
Augusta  to  56  inches  and  over  in  the  mountains.  The  table  on  page  131  gives  better  data  regarding  the  variation 
in  different  parts  of  the  basin.  The  stream  is  subject  to  heavy  freshets,  due  to  the  melting  of  snows  in  the  mountains 
and  to  heavy  falls  of  rain.  The  average  rise  in  freshets  is  about  16  feet,  but  sometimes  this  is  greatly  exceeded,  in 
August,  1852,  the  stream  rose  44  feet  in  48  hours  at  Petersburg  (about  59  miles  above  Augusta),  and  in  1875  it  rose 
at  the  same  place  38' feet  in  36  hours.  At  Augusta  it  has  been  known  to  riseabout  40  feet,  inundating  the  streets 
to  a  depth  of  4  feet  or  more.  Freshets  occur  most  frequently  during  May  and  August.  They  subside  much  less 
rapidly  than  they  rise.  Below  Augusta  the  rise  is  smaller  as  the  ocean  is  approached,  being  18  feet  at  a  point  133 
miles  lower  down,  and  5  feet  at  a  point  15  miles  above  Savannah. 

The  bed  of  the  stream  above  the  fall-line,  like  that  of  the  other  streams  we  have  described,  is  rock,  sometimes 
overlaid  with  clay,  gravel,  and  sand.    The  fall  of  the  stream  is  shown  by  the  following  table: 

Table  of  declivity  of  the  Savannah  river. 


Place. 


Mouth  

Steel  creek. . . 
Hay nes'  cut. . 

Silver  bluff  

Augusta  

Andersonville 


Distance  from 
mouth. 


Miles. 


0.0 
170.0 
203.0 
230.0 
248.0 
355.5 


Elevation 
above  tide. 


Feet. 


0.0 
68.6 
78.9 
108.0 
130.4 
400.0 


I  | 
Distance   be-    Fall  between    Fall  between 


tween  points. 


Miles. 


170.0 
33.0 
27.0 
18.0 

107.5 


points. 


Feet. 


68.6 
10.3 
29.1 
22.4 
270.0 


points. 


Feet  per  mile. 

■  -   -   -  0.40 

-  -  -  -  0.31 

-  -  -  -  1. 08 

-  -  -  -  1.24 

■  -  -  -  2. 51 


No  gaugings  of  the  stream  of  any  value  could  be  obtained. 

The  principal  productions  of  the  drainage-basin  are  corn  and  cotton,  with  some  tobacco. 


The  country  is  well 


timbered,  and  there  are  several  gold  and  iron  mines  near  the  river.  The  map  will  show  that  the  stream  is  not  very 
accessible,  the  nearest  railroad  points  above  Augusta  being  Washington,  Elberton,  Hartwell,  and  Anderson,  their 
distances  from  the  river  varying  from  6  to  25  miles.  The  Savannah  Valley  railroad,  now  being  constructed,  will 
run  from  Augusta  up  the  river  for  15  miles  on  the  Georgia  side,  then,  crossing  and  running  within  8  miles  of  the 
stream  for  25  miles  in  South  Carolina,  to  Greenwood,  on  the  Greenville  and  Columbia  railroad. 

The»Savannah  river  has  been  examined  by  United  States  engineers  under  the  direction  of  General  Q.  A. 
Gillmore,  whose  report  is  to  be  found  in  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers  for  1879,  page  747,  and  from 
which  most  of  the  following  information  regarding  the  shoals  on  the  river  has  been  obtained.  A  reconnoisance  of 
the  river  above  Augusta  was  also  made  in  1874  by  W.  W.  Thomas,  civil  engineer,  for  the  city  of  Augusta. 

Water-powers. — The  first  power  met  with  in  ascending  the  stream  is  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  at  which  city  we  find 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  important  utilized  powers  in  the  South,  supplied  from  a  canal  7  miles  long,  at  the  head 
of  which  is  a  dam  entirely  across  the  river.  Before  giving  its  technical  features,  a  few  points  regarding  the  history 
of  the  development  of  this  power  will  be  interesting.  The  canal  was  commenced  in  1845  and  completed  in  1847, 
under  the  direction  of  the  board  of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  city  "  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  canal 
from  a  point  on  the  Savannah  river  about  seven  miles  above  to  the  city  of  Augusta  for  manufacturing 
purposes,  and  for  the  better  securing  of  an  abundant  supply  of  water  to  the  city".  Its  original  dimensions  were  as 
follows:  width  at  surface,  40  feet;  at  bottom,  20  feet;  depth,  5  feet.  It  was  soon  found,  however,  that  these 
dimensions  were  too  small  to  supply  the  demand  for  power  and  for  water-supply,  and  the  banks  were  raised, 
increasing  the  depth  to  7  feet,  but  still  without  increasing  the  capacity  to  a  sufficient  extent.  In  1872  it  was  decided 
to  enlarge  the  dimensions  very  materially,  and  the  work  was  commenced  in  March  of  that  year,  and  completed  about 
the  middle  of  the  year  1875.  An  embankment  was  constructed  on  the  river  side,  but  on  the  land  side  the  water 
was  not  confined,  except  in  places  where  cutting  was  necessary,  but  was  allowed  to  flow  back,  cutting  a  contour 
line  from  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  forming  a  number  of  ponds  at  points  where  valleys  run  down  to  the  river, 

787 


128 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


having  a  total  area  of  27i§  acres,  exclusive  of  what  may  be  considered  the  canal  proper.  The  total  area  of  ponds 
and  canal  is  about  400  acres.  The  dimensions  of  the  latter  are:  length,  7  miles;  surface  width,  150  feet;  bottom 
width,  100  feet ;  depth,  11  feet ;  area  of  cross-section,  1,108  square  feet.  The  bottom  is  graded  to  a  fall  of  about  half 
a  foot  per  mile,  giving,  if  the  surface  of  the  water  has  the  same  inclination,  a  velocity  of  about  2.7  feet  per  second, 
or  a  discharge  of  about  3,800  cubic  feet  per  second.  The  dam  at  the  head  of  the  canal,  which  is  located  in  a  very 
favorable  place,  is  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration.    It  is  1,720  feet  long,  10.03  feet  high  on  the  average, 


DAM  AKD  BULKHEAD  OF  AUGUSTA  WATER-POWER. 


varying  from  6  to  15  feet,  and  is  built  of  solid  stone,  in  cement,  on  a  foundation  of  solid  rock.  It  extends  diagonally 
up  stream  for  1,000  feet  from  the  bulkhead,  and  then  720  feet  straight  across,  and  is  provided  with  four  waste- weirs, 
three  of  them  20  feet  wide  and  the  other  15  feet,  which  may  be  closed  by  needles.  In  section  it  is  a  trapezium,  its 
face  sloping  at  an  angle  of  45°,  its  back  one-half  horizontal  to  one  vertical,  and  its  top  at  an  angle  of  15°  backward 
and  downward.  The  horizontal  width  of  its  top  is  feet.  At  one  end  are  the  locks  and  bulkhead,  all  built  in  the 
most  substantial  manner  of  granite,  laid  in  hydraulic  cement,  the  stone  having  been  all  obtained  within  a  mde  of  the 
place.  The  cost  of  the  dam,  which  was  completed  in  1870,  was  about  $87,000,  and  that  of  the  remaining  works  at 
the  head  of  the  canal  was  $132,000,  making  a  total  of  $219,000.  The  pond  extends  for  about  1J  or  2  miles,  with  an 
average  width  of  1,500  feet,  interspersed  with  islands  and  rocks.  The  dam  has  never  been  injured  by  freshets  or 
ice,  and  is  built  in  such  a  solid  way  that  there  is  no  danger  of  its  ever  being  disturbed — the  water  having  stood, 
in  one  instance,  9  feet  above  its  crest. 

The  fall  at  Augusta  between  the  level  of  the  canal  and  low  water  in  the  river  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  50  feet, 
but  the  fluctuations  in  the  river  render  it  impossible  to  utilize  this  fall  economically.  Below  the  main  canal  are  two 
other  levels,  aggregating  about  2  miles  in  length,  the  second  and  third  levels  being,  respectively,  18  and  33  feet 
below  the  first  or  main  canal.  Power  is  used  from  all  three  levels,  the  table  on  the  following  page  showing  in  what 
way  and  to  what  extent.  The  mills  can  generally  be  run  at  full  capacity  all  the  time,  those  on  the  second  level  being 
troubled  sometimes,  but  not  often,  with  backwater  from  the  river.  The  Summerville  mills  have  worked  under  16 
feet  of  backwater.  ' 

The  power  at  Augusta  is  owned  entirely  by  the  city,  water  being  leased  to  the* different  mills  at  the  rate  of 
$5.50  per  horse-power.  The  method  of  determining  the  amount  of  power  used  is  optional  with  the  city  engineer, 
who  can  actually  gauge  the  water  consumed  when  the  machinery  is  in  full  operation,  or,  if  he  chooses,  judge  from 
the  size  of  wheel,  without  measurement.  All  the  works  connected  with  the  canal  were  built  by  the  city,  under 
Mayor  Charles  Estes,  the  moving  spirit  of  the  enterprise,  the  total  cost,  including  400  acres  of  land,  amounting 
788 


» 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


129 


to  $822,000.  This  land  includes  fine  building-sites,  as  well  as  space  for  operatives'  houses,  the  available  fall  between 
the  canal  and  the  river  varying  between  33  and  40  feet.  The  accompanying  map  will  show  the  location  of  these 
lands. 

The  drainage  area  of  the  Savannah  river  above  the  head  of  the  Augusta  canal  is  about  6,830  square  miles, 
and  the  rainfall  about  50  or  52  inches,  distributed  as  follows:  spring,  14;  summer,  13;  autumn,  10;  winter,  15.  I 
have  therefore  estimated  the  power  as  follows  : 


Table  of  power  at  Augusta,  Georgia. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles . 


Fall. 


Feet 


6,  830  1   *33  to  40+ 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horso-power  available,  gross. 


1  footfall. 

33  feet  fall. 

40  feet  fall. 

50  feet  fall. 

193.2 

6,375 

7,728 

9,660 

238.7 

7,877 

9, 548 

11,  935 

681.8 

22,  500 

27, 272 

34,  090 

272.7 

9,000 

10,  908 

13,  635 

*  See  description. 

The  existing  canal  is  of  sufficient  capacity  to  carry  the  entire  flow  of  the  stream  in  dry  seasons.  The  storage 
room  offered  by  the  canal  and  ponds  would  be  sufficient  to  allow  of  the  power  used  during  12  hours  being  increased 
to  some  extent  above  that  afforded  by  the  stream  in  the  low  season  of  dry  years,  but  not  to  any  great  extent.  The 
utilization  of  the  maximum  power  could  only  be  effected  at  great  cost. 

The  power  just  described  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  South.  The  advantages  of  transportation  are  of  the  best, 
building-stone  of  the  best  quality  can  be  had  with  ease,  the  locality  is  healthy,  and  large  amounts  of  power  can  be 
rented  from  the  city  on  favorable  terms.  These  advantages  are  being  rapidly  improved.  The  Sibley  mills,  now 
being  built,  will  use  1,000  horse-power,  and  the  company  expect  to  double  their  capacity  within  a  short  time,  and 
eventually  to  triple  it.  As  the  advantages  become  more  widely  known  the  surplus  power  here  available  must  be 
rapidly  utilized. 

Table  of  power  utilized  at  Augusta,  Georgia. 

I. — WATER  TAKEN  ERQM  MAIN  CANAL  (FIRST  LEVEL)  AND  DISCHARGED  TO  RIVER. 
[The  powers  given  are  those  to  which  the  different  mills  are  entitled.    The  figures  differ  from  those  in  the  statistics  of  the  special  agent  on  cotton-mills.] 


Name  and  kind  of  milL 

Fall. 

Horse-power. 

Remarks. 

Feet. 
32.00 

38.00 

170. 00 
1,  000. 00 

Hercules  wheel.  Fall  of  11  feet  to  tail- 
race  at  low  water.  Highest  mill  on 
the  canal,  2  miles  above  the  basin,  or 
lower  end  of  main  canal. 

Now  building.  100  looms  and  3,000 
spindles.  Expect  to  double  capacity 
soon. 

LL— WATER  TAKEN  FROM  FIRST  LEVEL  AND  DISCHARGED  TO  SECOND. 


1.  Enterprise  Manufacturing  Company,  cotton 

2.  Augusta  flour-mills  

3.  Augusta  cotton  factory  '.  


16.44 
13. 00 

15. 25 


395. 00 
200.  00 

1,  200.  00 


John  M.  Clark's  Sons.    Have  lately  in- 
creased power  above  that  given. 
850  horse-power  actually  used. 


m.— WATER  TAKEN  FROM  SECOND  LEVEL  AND  DISCHARGED  TO  THIRD,  OR  TO  RIVER. 


12.07 

54.  50 

12.30 

91.  00 

John  M.  Clark's  Sons. 

12.30 

25.00 

12. 20 

61.88 

11.  50 

56.  00 

11.  00 

152.  00 

George  T.  Jackson  &  Co. 

11.00 

13.00 

Pendleton  <fe  Bro. 

11.  00 

45.00 

9.  Arctic  Ice  Company    

11.00 

62.26 

10.  Crescent  flour-mill  

10.63 

125.  00 

L.  F.  &  L.  J.  Miller. 

The  next  power  above  Augusta  is  at  Blue  Jacket  shoal,  where  the  fall  is  10  feet  in  200  yards.  Then  comes  Long 
shoal,  with  a  fall  of  35  feet  in  5  miles.    The  average  width  of  the  river  is  600  yards.    The  head  of  the  shoal  is 

789 


130 


%  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


about  5  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Little  river,  South  Carolina.  Then  follow  a  number  of  smaller  shoals,  many  of 
which  may  offer  good  sites  for  power,  to  determine  which  a  survey  would  be  necessary.  The  most  important  shoal, 
however,  is  Trotter's  shoal,  which  is  7  miles  long,  with  a  total  fall  of  74.88  feet.  The  head  of  the  shoal  is  at  the 
mouth  of  Kocky  river,  South  Carolina,  and  the  foot  5  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Broad  river,  Georgia.  This 
shoal  probably  offers  the  finest  power  on  the  river  above  Augusta,  and  is  now  almost  entirely  unutilized,  being 
only  used  for  a  couple  of  small  grist-mills.  The  river  descends  over  a  series  of  ledges  of  solid  rock,  and  is,  on  the 
average,  800  yards  wide.  The  banks  are  said  to  offer  no  difficulties  as  regards  the  construction  of  canals  or 
buildings.  The  river  rarely  rises  so  much  as  10  feet  during  freshets,  and  there  is  of  co'urse  no  trouble  with  ice- 
Fine  building-materials — granite,  timber,  clay  for  brick,  and  soapstone — abound  in  the  neighborhood,  and  iron  and 
gold  are  said  to  have  been  found  close  by  the  river.  The  surrounding  country  is  well  adapted  for  the  cultivation  of 
corn  and  cotton,  the  climate  is  healthy,  and  although  the  site  is  at  present  rather  inaccessible,  being  aboutIS  miles 
distant  from  Elberton  and  Abbeville,  the  nearest  railroad  points,  yet  the  proposed  Savannah  Valley  railroad  will 
pass  close  by  the  shoals  on  the  South  Carolina  side,  while  the  Hartwell  and  Augusta  railroad,  now  talked  of,  will, 
if  built,  pass  close  to  them  on  the  Georgia  side.*  As  regards  water  communication,  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
steamboat  navigation  can  probably  be  opened  up  to  the  foot  of  the  shoals,  the  estimated  cost  of  securing  a  ckannM 
3  feet  deep  and  90  feet  wide  being  $124,000,t  while  the  cost  of  improvement  for  a  pole-boat  channel  3  by  30  feet 
was  estimated  at  $45,000.    The  sum  of  $16,000  has  been  appropriated  to  the  work. 

I  am  indebted  for  much  valuable  and  detailed  information  concerning  these  shoals  to  Colonel  James  Edward 
Calhoun.   The  power  available  has  been  estimated  as  in  the  following  table: 


Estimate  of  power  at  Trotter's  shoals. 


State  of  flow. 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Rainfall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse  power  available, 
gross. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

Autumn.  I 

Winter. 

Tear. 

Sg.  miles. 

Feet. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Cubic  feet. 

1  footfall. 

75  feet  fall. 

r  670 

76.1 

5,700 

950 

108.0 

8, 100 

1     2, 664 

74.88 

15 

14 

10 

m 

55 

i       2, 550 

290.0 

21,  750 

(       1, 075 

122.2 

9,165^ 

Although  all  of  the  other  falls  on  the  Savannah  were  ascertained  by  measurement  with  an  aneroid  barometer, 
the  fall  of  Trotter's  shoal  was  measured  more  accurately  with  a  leveling-instrument.  I  did  not  visit  this  shoalr 
and  all  my  information  is  therefore  derived  from  reports  and  correspondence.  It  is  proper  to  say,  however,  that 
every  one  whom  I  questioned  regarding  it  said  it  afforded  one  of  the  finest  powers  they  had  ever  seen.  It  is 
therefore  certainly  worthy  of  attention. 

The  remaining  shoals  on  the  river,  with  estimates  of  the  power  available,  will  be  found  in  the  table.  Eegarding 
them  I  have  meager  information.  Cherokee  shoal  is  5  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Van's  creek,  Georgia ;  Gregg's 
shoal  is  just  above  the  mouth  of  Pickens'  creek,  Georgia,  and  just  at  the  line  between  Anderson  and  Abbeville 
counties,  South  Carolina ;  Middleton's  shoal  is  just  below  the  mouth  of  Little G en erostee  creek,  South  Carolina;  and 
McDaniell's  shoal  is  2  miles  above  Cedar  creek,  Georgia.  Some  of  these  shoals,  and  some  of  the  smaller  falls 
between  them,  have  been  used  at  different  times  for  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  but  there  is  no  other  manufacturing 
of  any  kiud  on  the  river  above  Augusta  except  at  one  small  woolen-mill.  To  determine  the  availability  of  these 
shoals  personal  examination  would  be  necessary.  It  is  improbable  that  much  power  will  be  used  on  the  river  for 
some  time,  for  the  great  width  of  the  stream  renders  dams  expensive,  and  except  at  places  where  considerable  fall 
can  be  secured,  as  at  Trotter's  shoal,  it  would  perhaps  hardly  pay  to  utilize  power  very  extensively,  although  small 
mills  with  wing-dams  could  be  located  at  many  places.  In  Anderson  county  the  banks  of  the  river  are  said  to  be 
quite  bluffy,  so  that  canaling  would  be  difficult  and  costly;  but  below  that  county  the  country  is  said  to  be  more 
open,  and  canals  to  be  practicable.  It  was  stated  by  persons  acquainted  with  the  river  that  Gregg's  and  Middleton's 
shoals  would  be  hard  to  utilize  on  account  of  the  high  banks,  although  both  have  been  used  to  a  small  extent  for 
saw-mills;  but  that  Cherokee  shoal,  on  the  contrary,  could  be  easily  used,  and  the  whole  fall  rendered  available. 
There  is  now  a  mill  at  these  shoals  with  a  wing-dam  5  feet  high,  a  canal  a  mile  long,  and  a  fall  at  the  mill  of  16 
feet. 

The  table  on  the  following  page  gives  the  power  utilized  on  the  river.  The  only  dam  across  the  stream  is  the 
one  at  Augusta. 


*  Information  from  Colonel  James  Edward  Calhoun. 

790 


t  Annual  Report  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  749. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Summary  of  power  on  the  Savannah  river. 


131 


Place. 


Augusta  

Blue  Jacket  shoal. 

Long  shoal  

Trotter's  shoal  

Cherokee  shoal  . . . 
Bowman's  ledge  . . 

Gregg's  shoal  

Middleton's  shoal. 

Fen-ill's  ledge  

McDaniell's  shoal. 


Miles. 
0.  00 
19.00 
30  ± 
64.00 
75.50 
83.  00 
85.50 
88.  50 
89.75 
95.50 


ft 


\Sq.  miles. 
6,  830 
5,800± 
5, 135 
2,664 
2,  212 


2, 100 
2,  078 


1, 900 


Kainfall. 


w  w 


In.  In.  i  In. 
14  j  13  j  10 
14    13  10 

13  I  10 

14  I  10 
14  j  10 
14  10 
14  I  10 
14  10 
14  10 
14  !  10 


In.  1  In. 
15  I  52 
15  i  52 
15  5*2 


Fall. 


bp 

w 


Feet. 
33-40 
10 
35 
75 
9 
3 
14 
18 
3 
30 


.a 


7  miles. 
600  feet 
5  miles - 
7  miles . 
0.5mile. 
120-feet 
1  mile . . 
1  mile. . 
360  feet 
5  miles  . 


Horse-power  available, 
gross.* 


a  1 

B  £ 
5 


6,375 
1,650  I 
5,100  ! 
5,700  i 
560  I 


7,877 
2,  050 
6, 350 
8, 100 
800 


825 
1,  060 


1,150 
1,500 


1,600  1  2,275 


-  c 

2  B 
a  o 

3 


22,  500 
5,800 
18,  000 
21,  750 
2, 100 


3,  200 

4,  000 


9,  000 
2,  350 
7,250 
9,165 
900 


1, 325 
1,700 


6, 100 


2,  600 


Utilized. 


3,  650 


Feet. 
38 


Remarks. 


See  description. 

1 


Only  power  utilized  is 
for  small  grist-  or 
saw-mills. 


TUGAXOO  RIVER  (see  beyond). 


Hat toc'«  shoal  

110. 00 
113. 50 

845 
775 

15 
15 

15 
15 

10 
10 

16 
16 

56 
56 

39 
17 

1J  mile. 
1  mile... 

936 

375 

1, 131 
450 

4,  095 
1, 650 

1,287 
520 

0 
0 

0 
0 

0 
0 

1  No  power  utilized  on 
|    the  river. 

SENECA  RIVER  (see  beyond). 

113.00 

740 

15 

15 

10 

16 

56 

60 

2  miles . . 

1,290 

1,  700 

5,620 

1,950 

0 

0 

0 

No  power  utilized  on 
the  river. 

1  See  pages  18  to  21. 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  SAVANNAH  RIVER. 

The  first  considerable  tributary  of  the  Savannah  river  is  Briar  creek,  which  rises  in  Warren  county,  Georgia,  and 
pursues  a  southeasterly  course  through  a  distance  of  about  85  miles  in  a  straight  line,  draining  an  area  of  830 
square  miles,  and  entering  the  Savannah  river  in  Screven  county.  It  crosses  the  fall-line  near  its  source,  but  with 
no  great  fall  at  that  point,  and  its  water-power  is  of  little  consequence.  Some  of  its  tributaries  may  be  classed 
as  sand-hill  streams,  and  afford  small  powers. 

Lower  Three  runs  and  Upper  Three  runs,  from  Barnwell  and  Aiken  counties,  South  Carolina,  are  two  sand-hill 
streams,  which  could  be  made  to  afford  considerable  power,  although  at  present  only  a  small  amount  is  utilized. 
Lower  Three  runs  drains  an  area  of  140  square  miles,  and  is  some  25  miles  long,  while  Upper  Three  runs  drains  105 
square  miles,  and  is  over  30  miles  long.  Both  have  gradual  declivities,  beds  of  sand  and  clay,  and  considerable 
swamp-land  along  their  courses.  Lower  Three  runs  has  a  few  corn-  and  saw-mills  in  operation,  and  several  old 
mill-sites  not  in  use.  It  has  a  gradual  fall  of  12  or  15  feet  per  mile  in  its  upper  parts,  according  to  Mr.  James  E. 
Crossland,  civil  engineer  and  surveyor,  of  Aiken,  South  Carolina,  and  it  offers  good  facilities  for  storage.  If  we  take 
its  flow  at  from  one-half  to  one  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  (see  page  85),  it  will  be  found  that  the  stream 
will  afford  at  its  mouth  8  to  10  horse-power  per  foot.  Gaugings  only  can  determine  whether  this  estimate  is 
correct.  At  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  however,  there  are  no  sites  for  power.  Upper  Three  runs,  the  larger  stream 
of  the  two,  is  also  a  better  stream.  It  has  not  so  much  swamp-land,  has  better  banks,  and  has  a  greater  fall, 
amounting  to  from  18  to  20  feet  per  mile  in  places,  according  to  Mr.  Crossland.*  It  is  crossed  at  its  mouth, 
near  Ellenton,  by  the  Port  Boyal  and  Augusta  railroad,  and  near  its  headwaters  by  the  South  Carolina  railroad. 
Its  width  varies  from  120  feet  at  its  mouth,  and  100  feet  a  few  miles  above,  to  75  feet  at  a  distance  of  15  miles  above. 
The  first  power  is  at  Newman's,  just  above  the  railroad  bridge,  where  there  was  forinerty  a  mill  having  a  fall  of  7 
feet.  The  dam  is  still  there,  and  is  of  dirt,  and  the  site  is  said  to  be  a  very  good  one.  A  few  miles  above  is  a  second 
good  power,  at  Rouse's  bridge,  not  now  used.  According  to  Mr.  Crossland,  there  are  now  in  operation  on  the  stream 
and  tributaries  twelve  grist-  and  saw-mills,  and  one  cotton-yarn. mill  running  the  Clement-attachment,  and  also  six 
sites  formerly  used,  but  now  idle.  According  to  the  supposition  above  made  regarding  the  flow  of  the  stream,  it 
would  afford  at  its  mouth  from  9  to  18  horse-power  per  foot  fall. 

The  tributaries  to  the  Savannah  from  Richmond  county,  Georgia,  afford  some  power,  and  some  of  them  are 
sand-hill  streams,  but  none  are  of  much  importance.  There  are  also  in  this  county  some  sand  hill  tributaries  to 
Briar's  creek  which  afford  good  small  powers,  with  large  ponds,  allowing  of  concentration  of  power  during  working 


I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Crossland  for  considerable  information  regarding  these  streams  and  for  a  map  of  Upper  Three  runs. 

791 


132 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


hours,  the  principal  one  of  these  streams  being  Sandy  run.  Of  the  streams  flowing  directly  into  the  Savannah 
the  principal  are  McBean's  creek  and  Spirit  creek,  the  former  draining  92  square  miles.  They  are  used  by  grist-  and 
saw-mills,  with  ponds  so  large  that  there  is  no  waste  except  by  leakage;  and  there  have  been  a  few  cotton  factories 
*"in  the  vicinity.  There  are  sites  on  almost  all  of  these  streams,  but  the  powers  are  too  small  to  be  specified 
in  detail. 

As  regards  power  utilized,  one  of  the  most  important  tributaries  to  the  Savannah  river  is  Horse  creek,  a  small 
stream  about  20  miles  in  length,  measured  in  a  straight  line,  and  draining  about  143  square  miles.  It  enters  the 
Savannah  from  Aiken  county,  South  Carolina,  a  few  miles  below  Augusta,  and  is  one  of  the  most  important 
manufacturing  streams  of  South  Carolina.  It  is  a  true  sand-hill  stream,  and  in  addition  it  crosses  the  fall-line,  and 
has  a  rapid  fall,  offering  excellent  advantages  for  power.  The  bed  is  rock  in  places,  and  in  Others  clay  and  grit,  and 
sometimes  sand.  The  banks  are  good,  and  also  the  facilities  for  storage,  as  will  be  seen  from  what  follows.  The  stream 
was  early  utilized  for  power,  and  at  present  all  the  good  sites  are  occupied  (although  one  is  lying  idle),  so  that  it  only 
remains  to  describe  the  powers  in  use :  In  ascending  the  stream  the  first  power  is  at  the  Bath  paper-mills,  now  not 
in  use,  situated  6  miles  from  the  mouth,  a  mile  above  the  head  of  boat  navigation,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Little 
Horse  creek,  the  principal  tributary  of  Horse  creek,  and  which  drains  about  36  square  miles.  The  dam  is  of  earth, 
900  feet  long  and  20  feet  high ;  the  pond  covers  150  acres  to  an  average  depth  of  10  or  12  feet;  and  the  head  and 
fall  was  38  feet.  The  dam  was  built  in  1854,  and  was  washed  out  in  1871  by  the  breaking  of  the  next  dam  above 
(Langley),  the  damage  done  amounting  to  $33,000,  the  rebuilding  of  the  dam  having  cost  that  sum.  It  was  again 
washed  out  in  1877,  and  has  not  yet  been  rebuilt.  The  damages  to  dam  and  mill  are  estimated  at  $50,000.  The 
power  used  is  stated  at  500  to  600  horse-power,  there  being  scarcely  ever  waste  of  water.  The  drainage  area 
above  being  about  100  square  miles,  I  would  estimate  the  available  power  due  to  the  natural  flow  of  the  stream 
at  from  6  to  12  horse-power  per  foot  fall.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  this  site  is  below  the  mouth  of  Little  Horse 
creek,  in  which  case  the  power  would  be  about  one-third  greater. 

Two  miles  above  Bath  is  the  Langley  cotton-mill.  The  dam  is  of  earth  and  crib-work,  1,000  feet  long  and  24  feet 
high,  built  in  1870  at  a  cost  of  $15,000,  and  ponding  the  water  over  700  acres  to  an  average  depth  of  10  feet.  The 
head-race  is  300  feet  long,  the  fall  21  feet,  and  the  power  used  is  stated  at  500  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained 
at  all  times,  no  steam-power  being  used,  and  there  being  no  waste  at  night  in  dry  weather.  I  would  estimate  the 
power  at  about  the  same  as  for  Bath,  which  would  give  from  275  to  550  horse-power  gross  during  11  hours.* 

Three  miles,  above  Langley,  at  the  town  of  Granite ville,  is  the  factory  of  the  Graniteville  Manufacturing  Company, 
the  most  important  mill  on  the  stream.  The  dam,  which  is  a  continuation  of  the  canal  bank,  is  principally  of  earth, 
and  extends  across  Horse  creek  and  one  of  its  tributaries  (Bridge  creek)  just  above  their  junction,  the  two  ponds 
being  connected  by  a  canal  about  500  feet  long.  The  dam  across  Bridge  creek  is  of  earth,  about  500  feet  long  and 
10  to  20  feet  high,  and  is  10  feet  wide  on  top  and  30  or  40  feet  at  the  bottom.  It  carries  the  railroad  across  the  creek. 
The  dam  across  Horse  creek  is  700  to  800  feet  long,  and  is  of  earth,  with  the  exception  of  a  rock  dam  in  the  center, 
about  60  by  20  feet,  founded  on  solid  rock.  There  is  also  a  waste-weir  about  100  feet  long,  and  the  height  of  both 
waste-weir  and  dam  can  be  raised  by  flash-boards.  These  dams  were  built  in  1848  and  1867,  the  rock  dam  costing 
$15,000,  and  the  earth  dam  $35,000.  The  total  pond  area  is  about  100  acres — 75  on  Horse  creek,  and  25  on  Bridge 
creek.  The  canal  is  half  a  mile  long,  45  to  60  feet  wide,  and  10  feet  deep.  The  fall  used  is  43  feet,  and  the  power 
600  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  for  300  days  in  the  year  by  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond  at  night 
(at  all  seasons  generally),  the  factory  being  run  during  12  hours.  No  steam-power  is  used.  The  mill  is  sometimes 
obliged  to  stop  in  dry  weather,  generally  for  from  5  to  8  days  per  year,  but  in  1879  it  was  stopped  for  17£  days. 
The  dam  has  been  twice  carried  away,  but  only  once  in  the  last  twenty-two  years,  in  1867,  when  a  heavy  rain  caused 
the  breaking  of  2  dams  above.  The  drainage  area  above  Graniteville  being  about  81  square  miles,  if  we  assume  the 
net  power  available  in  dry  seasons  at  300  horse-power,  or  the  gross  power  at  400  horse-power,  with  storage,  or  200 
horse-power  with  the' natural  flow  of  the  stream,  we  shall  find  the  discharge  to  be  oue-half  cubic  foot  per  second 
per  square  mile.  The  ordinary  power  being  600  horse-power  net,  with  storage  during  the  night,  or  400  gross  due  to 
the  natural  flow,  the  corresponding  flow  is  one  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile.  The  flow  may  be  taken  to  vary 
between  these  limits. 

Two  railroads — the  Charlotte,  Columbia,  and  Augusta  railroad,  and  the  South  Carolina  railroad — pass  through 
the  town  of  Graniteville. 

The  next  power  above  Graniteville  is  the  Vancluse  factory  of  the  Graniteville  Manufacturing  Company,  3  miles 
above.  As  in  the  case  of  Graniteville,  there  are  two  ponds,  one  formed  by  a  dam  across  Horse  creek,  and  covering 
100  acres,  and  the  other  formed  by  the  railroad  embankment  across  Good  Spring,  and  covering  42  acres,  the  two 
being  connected  by  a  conduit  4£  feet  square  and  450  feet  long,  16  feet  below  the  level  of  the  ponds,  and  built  at  a 
cost  of  $2,500.  The  dam  across  Horse  creek  is  of  rock,  300  feet  long  and  28  feet  high,  the  length  of  overfall  being 
60  feet,  and  was  built  in  1877  at  a  cost  of  $30,000.  An  iron  tube  6£  feet  in  diameter  and  350  feet  long,  which 
cost  $7,000,  conveys  the  water  to  the  wheels,  where  the  fall  is  51  feet.    The  power  used  is  300  horse-power,  which 

*  Power  stated  at  300  horse-power  in  statistics  of  special  agent  on  cotton-mills. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


133 


can  be  obtained  at  all  times  by  drawing  down  the  water  in  the  pond  at  night.  The  drainage  area  being  about  56 
square  miles,  the  flow  is  calculated  at  about  0.6  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile.  It  probably  varies  between 
one-half  and  one  cubic  foot. 

Above  Vancluse  there  are  only  a  few  small  grist-  and  saw-mills  on  the  stream,  and  none  of  importance. 

Horse  creek  offers  a  good  example  of  the  large  amount  of  power  which  can  be  obtained  at  small  expense  from 
a  comparatively  insignificant  stream  if  it  is  only  properly  developed,  and  it  is  the  best  example  of  a  sand-hill  stream 
in  South  Carolina.  Crossing  the  fall-line,  however,  near  Graniteville,  it  offers  better  facilities  for  dams,  and  has 
more  fall  than  most  sand-hill  streams,  and  is  therefore  peculiarly  favorable  for  power.  The  rock  bed  which  is  found 
at  Graniteville  extends  only  a  short  distance  below,  but  is  found  above  for  some  distance.  Below  the  Graniteville 
dam  the  bed  of  the  stream  is  only  about  15  feet  wide,  and  it  seems  wonderful  that  such  a  seemingly  small  stream 
can  afford  so  much  power.  As  before  mentioned,  there  are  no  other  sites  worth  mentioning  on  the  stream,  and 
there  are  said  to  be  few  sites  for  reservoirs. 

Some  of  the  small  tributaries  of  Horse  creek  afford  good  small  powers.  Little  Horse  creek  has  one  site  about 
3  miles  from  Graniteville,  where  there  used  to  be  a  saw-mill;  but  the  power  is  not  large,  and  I  have  no  data 
regarding  it. 

The  next  tributary  to  the  Savannah  worth  mentioning  is  Big  Stevens  creek,  from  Edgefield  county,  South 
Carolina,  but  I  was  unable  to  obtain  information  regarding  its  power.  It  is  formed  by  the  confluence  of  several 
smaller  streams  which  have  their  sources  in  Abbeville  and  Edgefield  counties,  and  the  total  area  which  it  drains 
comprises  about  650  square  miles.  From  all  I  could  learn,  its  water-power  is  not  of  much  importance,  and  it  is 
stated  on  good  authority  that  on  a  great  part  of  its  drainage-basin  the  prevailing  rock  is  a  clay-slate,  which  sheds 
the  water  very  rapidly,  so  that  the  flow  of  the  stream  is  very  variable,  like  that  of  some  streams  in  North  Carolina 
to  which  we  have  referred.  Nevertheless,  at  its  mouth  the  flow  ought  to  be  at  least  75  cubic  feet  per  second  in  very 
dry  seasons,  and  perhaps  90  to  100  cubic  feet  in  ordinary  years  in  the  low  season.  There  are  some  mills  on  the 
stream  and  its  tributaries,  but  they  are  of  no  importance. 

The  next  tributary  is  Little  river,  from  Georgia,  which  rises  in  Greene  and  Oglethorpe  counties,  flows  in  a 
general  easterly  direction,  forming  the  boundary-line  between  Wilkes  and  Lincoln  counties  on  its  left,  and  Taliaferro, 
Warren,  McDuffie,  and  Columbia  counties  on  its  right,  joining  the  Savannah  about  24£  miles  above  Augusta.  Its 
length,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  55  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  about  695  square  miles.  It  is  150  feet.wide  at  its 
mouth.  Its  water-power,  however,  is  not  of  much  value.  Flowing,  as  it  does,  at  a  small  angle  with  the  strike  of  the 
rock  strata,  its  fall  is  not  very  great,  and  there  are  no  precipitous  descents.  Its  bed  is  sand,  clay,  and  gravel,  to  a 
greater  extent  than  that  of  the  Savannah,  and  its  banks  are  tolerably  low.  There  is  some  trouble  in  securing  good 
locations  and  foundations  for  dams.  The  power  of  the  stream  is  used  for  only  grist-  and  saw-mills,  as  will  be  seen 
from  the  table  on  page  141 ;  and  although  there  are  several  places  where  there  are  shoals  with  falls  of  a  few  feet, 
some  of  which  have  heretofore  been  utilized,  yet  there  are  no  very  good  sites  on  the  stream.  The  flow  of  the 
stream  is  so  variable,  and  its  water-power  so  small,  that  estimates  of  its  flow  are  not  necessary. 

Little  river,  South  Carolina,  is  the  next  stream  worth  mentioning.  It  takes  its  rise  in  the  eastern  corner  of 
Anderson  county,  and  flows  in  a  southerly  direction,  most  of  its  course  lying  in  Abbeville  county,  entering  the 
Savannah  almost  on  the  boundary-line  between  that  county  and  Edgefield.  Its  length  in  a  straight  line  is  about 
45  miles,  and  it  drains  about  530  square  miles,  receiving  as  its  principal  tributary  Long  Cane  creek,  from  the  east  or 
north,  which  drains  an  area  of  about  183  square  miles.  It  is  bordered  with  many  fine  bottom-lands,  which  are  often 
overflowed,  and  the  banks,  as  a  rule,  are  not  very  high.  Its  fall  is  moderate,  perhaps  about  as  large  as  that  of  the 
Savannah,  or  rather  greater.  Its  elevation  at  the  crossing  of  the  Savannah  Valley  railroad,  3  miles  above  the 
Edgefield  county-line,  is  222  feet ;  and  that  of  Long  Cane  creek,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Greenville  and  Columbia 
railroad  (see  map),  is  481  feet.  It  is  used  for  grist-  and  saw-mills,  and  has  several  sites  not  used,  offering  good 
powers.  Below  the  mouth  of  Long  Cane  creek  there  is  only  one  mill,  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  (and  a  Clement- 
attachment  cotton  factory  in  course  of  erection),  situated  about  a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Above  the 
mouth  of  Long  Cane  creek  the  next  power  is  an  unutilized  site  known  as  Martin's  shoal,  19  miles  from  Abbeville,  and 
8  miles  above  the  first  mill.  The  fall  is  said  to  amount  to  15  feet  in  1,500.  The  bed  is  rock,  and  the  banks  high  and 
precipitous.  I  am  not  able  to  say  whether  this  power  is  easily  available.  Above  come  two  grist-mills,  with  falls  of 
7  and  14  feet,  and  then  a  second  site,  not  used,  known  as  the  Trimble  shoals,  13  or  14  miles  from  Abbeville.  The 
shoal  is  half  a  mile  long,  but  the  fall  is  not  known,  although  it  is  said  to  be  considerable.  The  bed  is  very  rocky, 
and  cau  be  crossed  at  low-water,  by  jumping  from  rock  to  rock,  without  wetting  one's  feet.  The  banks  are  said  to 
be  very  steep,  and  the  construction  of  a  canal  would  present  difficulty.  Above  this  point  are  only  a  few  small 
grist-  and  saw-mills.  Long  Cane  creek,  which  enters  Little  river  about  5  or  6  miles  from  its  mouth,  has  more  bottom- 
land than  the  latter,  and  probably  not  so  much  fall.  It  is  utilized  for  grist-  and  saw-mills,  and  has  a  few  shoals  not 
used,  but  none  of  much  importance. 

The  rainfall  on  the  drainage-basin  of  Little  river  is  about  50  inches — 14  in  spring,  13  in  summer,  9  in  autumn, 
and  14  in  winter.    I  would  therefore  estimate  its  flow  and  that  of  Long  Cane  creek  as  in  the  table  on  page  134. 

793 


134  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Estimate  of  flow  and  power  of  Little  river,  South  Carolina. 


Stream  and  place. 

Drainage  area. 

Rainfall. 

Flow  per  second. 

Horse  power  available,  gross.* 

Spring. 

li 
O 

a 

a 

w 

Autumn. 

.5 

Tear. 

Minimum. 

Minimum 
low  season. 

Maximum, 
with  storage. 

Low  season, 
dry  years. 

Minimum. 

Minimum 
low  season. 

Maximum, 
with  storage. 

Low  season,  1 
dry  years,  j 

Sq.  m. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Ou.  ft. 

Ou.  ft. 

Cu.  ft. 

Cu.  ft. 

1ft.  fall. 

1  ft.  fall. 

1ft.  fall. 

1ft.  fall. 

531 

14 

13 

9 

14 

50 

79 

10.6 

450 

123 

9.0 

12,0 

51 

14.0 

Little  river  above  mouth  of  Long  Cane  

320 

14 

13 

9 

14 

50 

44 

57 

282 

66 

5.0 

6.5 

32 

7.5 

183 

14 

13 

9 

14 

50 

22 

28 

158 

32 

2.5 

3.2 

18 

3.6 

*  See  pages  18  to  21. 


The  next  important  tributary  to  the  Savannah  is  Broad  river,  from  Georgia,  the  largest  affluent  of  the  stream. 
Its  headwaters  are  in  Banks  and  Habersham  counties,  whence  it  flows  southeast  through  Franklin  and  Madison 
counties,  and  between  Elbert  county  on  its  left  and  Madison  and  Oglethorpe  counties  on  its  right,  where  it  turns  to 
the  left  and  flows  nearly  east  between  Elbert  county  on  its  left,  and  Oglethorpe,  Wilkes,  and  Lincoln  counties  on  its 
right,  joining  the  Savannah  on  the  line  between  Elbert  and  Lincoln  counties,  and  at  a  point  about  59  miles  above 
Augusta.  Its  length  along  its  general  course  is  about  78  miles,  and  it  drains  a  total  area  of  1,500  square  miles. 
It  is  navigable  for  pole-boats  for  a  distance  of '5  miles  from  its  mouth,  its  width  in  that  distance  being  about 
300  feet.  It  receives  as  its  principal  tributaries  the  South  fork,  which  enters  between  Madison  and  Oglethorpe 
counties  and  drains  275  square  miles;  the  Hudson  river,  which  enters  in  Franklin  county  and  drains  213  square 
miles;  and  the  Middle  fork,  which  also  enters  in  Franklin  county,  draining  192  square  miles,  all  three  entering  from 
the  west  or  south.  The  North  fork,  or  main  stream,  drains  an  area  of  167  square  miles  above  its  junction  with  the 
Middle  fork. 

The  general  character  of  the  drainage-basin  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  lower  Saluda.  The  country 
is  rolling,  but  not  rough,  except  in  the  extreme  upper  parts,  where  it  is  broken.  The  soil  is,  as  usual,  clay  and  loam. 
The  flow  of  the  stream  is  said  to  be  quite  variable,  and  the  freshets  heavy,  overflowing  large  areas  of  low  ground. 
The  declivity  is.  broken  by  shoals  in  various  places,  but  they  are  generally  not  of  very  much  importance;  only  in 
one  case  is  a  very  large  power  produced.  Regarding  these  shoals  I  was  able  to  obtain  very  little  information,  but 
it  is  probable  that  none  of  them  are  worth  much  for  power  except  the  single  one  referred  to.  The  following  brief 
notes  comprise  all  the  information  I  could  obtain: 

Smith's  shoal,  about  2  or  3  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  is  not  used,  the  fall  being  stated  to  amount  to  as 
much  as  G  to  10  feet  in  half  a  mile,  capable  of  being  increased  by  a  dam,  with  good  banks  and  bed. 

Anthony's  shoals,  about  5  or  G  miles  from  the  mouth,  is  the  finest  shoal  on  the  river,  and  the  only  one  of 
importance.  I  was  prevented  by  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  from  visiting  this  site,  so  that  the  following  notes 
are  from  hearsay.  The  shoal  is  situated  just  above  the  lower  corner  of  Wilkes  county,  about  16  miles  from 
Elberton  and  20  miles  from  Washington,  the  nearest  railroad  points.  It  should  be  mentioned,  however,  that  a  road 
is  projected  between  Augusta  and  Elberton  which  will  pass  close  by  the  shoal,  rendering  it  easily  accessible.  The 
fall  of  the  shoal  was  variously  stated  at  from  25  to  75  feet  in  a  distance  of  one  and  a  quarter  miles.  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  it  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  40  feet.  The  descent  is  continuous  for  the  entire  distance  over  a  bed  of  rock,  the 
channel  of  the  stream  being  interspersed  with  islands,  and  the  width  varying  from  about  750  feet  at  the  head  to 
1,200  feet  near  the  middle  and  600  at  the  foot  of  the  shoal.  The  rise  in  freshets  is  probably  small.  The  banks  are 
favorable  on  the  north  side,  where  it  is  said  that  the  whole  fall  could  be  utilized  by  a  canal.  On  the  south  side 
they  are  very  bluffy  on  the  lower  half  of  the  shoal,  and  the  whole  fall  could  not  be  utilized.  The  location  for  mills 
is  safe,  and  not  liable  to  overflow  in  high  water.  Power  has  been  used  ou  the  north  side  for  a  cotton  factory — the 
Hopewell  factory — which  was  burned  some  time  ago,  and  on  the  south  side  for  two  grist-mills,  only  one  of  which  is 
now  in  use.  At  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  a  dam  of  wood  and  stone,  18  inches  high  and  500  feet  long,  entirely  across 
the  river,  and  from  it  a  race  1,200  feet  long  leads  to  the  grist-mill  on  the  right  bank,  where  the  fall  is  12  feet. 
Above  the  tail-race  of  this  mill  a  wing-dam  of  wood  and  stone,  18  inches  high  and  160  feet  long,  extends  from  the 
left  (north)  bank  across  to  an  island,  and  from  it  a  race  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long  leads  to  the  old  cotton  factory, 
where  the  fall  is  18  or  20  feet.  The  fall  continues  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile  below  the  factory,  and  in  this  distance 
there  was  once  a  mill  on  the  right  bank,  not  now  used.    The  exact  fall  below  the  factory  is  not  known. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  site  is  about  1,467  square  miles,  and  the  rainfall  about  55  inches — 15  in  spring, 
14  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  16  in  winter.  It  is  greatest  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basin.  Having  no  record 
of  gaugings  of  the  river,  I  have  estimated  the  power  as  on  page  135. 

794 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  of  power  at  Anthony's  shoals,  Broad  river,  Georgia. 


135 


State  of  flow  (seepages  18  to  21). 


Minim  um  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 

*  See  description ;  probably  not  less  than  40  feet. 

The  topography  of  the  drainage-basin  is  such  that  it  would  probably  be  very  expensive  to  secure  the  maximum 
with  storage.    I  am  unable  to  state  whether  a  large  pond  could  be  secured  or  not. 

This  power  was  stated  by  every  one  who  had  seen  it,  and  with  whom  I  communicated  on  the  subject,  to  be  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  vicinity,  and  easily  controlled.  The  above  estimates  show  that  the  power  is  very  large.  The 
facilities  for  transportation  are  at  present  poor,  but  if  the  projected  railroad  is  built  there  will  be  no  difficulty  on 
this  score.  Good  building  material  can  be  obtained  near  at  hand.  I  am  indebted  for  much  information  regarding 
the  site  to  Mr.  John  Thompson.* 

At  Baker's  ferry,  4  to  5  miles  above  Anthony's  shoals,  there  is  said  to  be  a  natural  fall  of  3  feet  in  GOO,  not  used; 
and  4  or  5  miles  farther  up  there  is  a  mill  in  Oglethorpe  county,  near  the  edge  of  Wilkes,  with  a  fall  of  3  or  4  feet. 
Above  that  there  is  no  power  below  the  mouth  of  the  South  fork,  which  enters  some  20  miles  above  Anthony's 
shoals;  and  even  above  the  mouth  of  the  South  fork,  although  there  are  a  few  small  shoals,  there  are  no  powers 
of  importance.  Mention  was  made  of  Dedwiler's  shoal,  Thicket's  Ferry  shoal,  Moore's  old  mill,  King's  Ferry  shoal, 
Murray's  shoal,  and  of  a  shoal  near  Franklin  springs,  none  of  them  used  or  of  any  consequence.  The  water-power 
of  the  Broad  river,  with  the  exception  of  that  at  Anthony's  shoal,  seems  to  be  of  little  value. 

The  South  fork,  or  South  Broad,  has  a  few  powers  worth  mentioning.  A  mile  or  two  above  its  mouth  is 
Eberhart's  mill,  at  Pogg's  shoal,  where  the  fall  is  considerable.  The  stream  flows  over  a  ledge  of  rock,  and  the  total 
fall  is  said  to  amount  to  80  feet  in  a  distance  of  a  mile.  The  banks  are  high,  but  not  bluffy.  A  log  at  the  head  of 
this  shoal  turns  the  water  into  a  race  100  feet  long,  which  conveys  it  to  a  grist-mill,  where  the  fall  used  is  between 
20  and  30  feet.  This  shoal  is  a  good  one,  but  the  power  is  small.  Four  miles  above  is  a  similar  shoal,  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  long,  with  a  fall  of  some  25  or  30  feet,  used  by  Watson's  grist-mill.  There  are  other  precipitous  falls  on  small 
streams  in  the  neighborhood.  Hudson  river  is  said  to  have  no  power  except  near  its  headwaters.  Middle  Broad 
river  has  no  mills.  Near  its  mouth  the  country  is  said  to  be  very  broken,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  stream  is  shoaly 
for  several  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  North  Broad.  Above  that  the  stream  has  a  good  deal  of  bottom-land 
and  low  banks  along  its  course,  subject  to  frequent  overflow.  The  North  Broad  has  several  mills,  but  no  great  falls, 
the  power  at  the  mills  being  in  all  cases  obtained  with  high  dams.  This  fork,  like  the  previous  one,  has  generally 
low  banks  and  large  areas  of  bottom-land  overflowed  in  times  of  high  water.  As  regards  the  flow  of  these  streams 
detailed  estimates  are  not  necessary.  I  would  judge  that  the  three  forks  and  the  Hudson  might  be  depended  upon 
at  their  mouths  for  at  least  0.18  to  0.22  cubic  foot  per  second  per  square  mile  during  the  low  season  of  very  dry 
years  and  0.26  to  0.32  during  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years.  The  drainage  areas  having  been  previously  given, 
the  power  can  be  easily  calculated. 

The  next  tributary  of  the  Savannah  is  Rocky  river,  which  rises  in  Anderson  county,  South  Carolina,  and  flows 
nearly  south,  entering  the  Savannah  in  Abbeville,  just  at  the  head  of  Trotter's  shoals.  Its  length  in  a  straight 
line  is  about  40  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  241  square  miles.  It  passes  withiA  a  few  miles  of  Anderson  Court-house, 
and  its  elevation,  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  Greenville  and  Columbia  railroad,  about  2  miles  east  of  that  place,  is 
669  feet  above  tide,  while  at  the  crossing  of  the  Savannah  Valley  railroad,  3  miles  below  Lowndesville,  it  is  356  feet. 
The  general  character  of  its  drainage-basin  is  similar  to  that  of  Little  river,  South  Carolina,  but  there  are  fewer 
bottoms  than  on  the  latter  stream,  the  banks  are  higher,  and  the  rises  more  sudden.  The  stream  offers  considerable 
power,  but  is  used  only  for  grist-  and  saw-mills.  The  flow  is  quite  variable — more  so  than  that  of  Little  river.  The 
first  power  on  the  stream  is  at  the  mouth ;  but  from  all  I  could  learn  the  fall  is  small  and  the  power  of  little  value, 
although  formerly  there  was  a  mill  there.  The  stream  at  this  place  is  about  90  feet  wide.  The  next  power  above  is 
a  grist-mill,  with  12  feet  fall,  3  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream.  Above  it  are  four  more  mills  in  Abbeville  county, 
one  of  which  (Burdett's),  5  miles  northeast  of  Lowndesville,  is  situated  on  a  fine  shoal,  the  fall  being  stated  at  47£ 
feet  in  1,500.  The  mill  uses  31  feet  and  a  small  amount  of  power.  There  are  no  important  sites  not  used  in 
Abbeville  county.  In  Anderson  county  there  are  three  grist-mills  with  small  falls.  They  are  troubled  sometimes 
for  want  of  water,  but  the  dams  are  not  tight.  There  are  also  two  sites  not  used  in  this  county :  the  lowest  one, 
not  far  from  the  county-line,  known  as  Lee's  shoal,  with  a  natural  fall  of  10  feet  in  a  short  distance,  capable  of 

*  In  a  letter  of  recent  date  Mr.  Thompson  writes  that  he  has  measured  the  fall  with  a  spirit-level  and  finds  it  to  he  over  70  feet. 

795 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


1, 467 


Fall.* 


Flow  per 
second. 


Cubic  feet. 
370 
528 
1,450 
600 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


1  foot  fall. 
42 
60 
165 
68 


40  feet  fall. 
1,680* 

2,400 
6,600 
2,  720> 


136 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


being  increased,  to  15 ;  and  the  upper  one,  known  as  High  shoals,  6  miles  above  the  first,  a  mile  above  the  mouth  of 
Broadaway  creek  and  5  miles  from  Anderson  Court-house,  with  38  feet  fall  in  200  yards,  not  capable  of  being 
increased.  # 

The  remaining  tributaries  of  the  Savannah  below  the  junction  of  the  Seneca  and  Tugaloo  are  not  of  much 
importance.  Beaverdam  creek,  from  Elbert  county,  Georgia,  which  enters  nearly  opposite  the  Bocky  river,  is  well 
utilized  by  grist-mills,  -there  being  no  fewer  than  nine  mills  on  it,  although  its  length  is  only  about  30  miles  in  a 
straight  line,  and  its  drainage  area  185  square  miles.  The  mills  have  falls  of  from  12  to  20  feet.  At  Gray's  mill, 
the  second  as  the  stream  is  ascended,  although  only  about  10  feet  fall  is  used,  the  total  fall  of  the  shoal  is  stated  to 
be  nearly  25  feet  in  a  distance  of  a  mile.  At  Flat  shoals,  some  25  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  there  is  a 
fall  of  about  18  feet,  not  used,  and  at  several  other  places  there  is  unutilized  power.  Near  its  mouth  the  stream  will 
run  2  pair  of  stones  all  the  year  with  a  fall  of  10  feet  and  a  good  motor.  The  other  tributaries  to  the  Savannah — 
Coldwater  and  Cedar  creeks,  from  Georgia,  and  Little  and  Big  Generostee  creeks,  from  South  Carolina — all  have 
shoals  and  afford  small  powers.  The  last-named  drains  about  75  square  miles,  and  has  two  shoals,  known  as  Hard- 
Scrabble  and  Hamilton  shoals,  the  former  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  mouth,  with  an  available  fall  of  16 
feet  at  the  mill  and  considerable  fall  above  and  below  not  utilized.  • 

THE  TUGALOO  E1VEE. 

This  stream,  one  of  the  two  headwaters  of  the  Savannah,  is  formed  on  the  line  between  Georgia  and  South  Carolina 
by  the  union  of  the  Tallulah  and  Chatuga  rivers,  the  former  of  which  rises  in  Eabun  county,  Georgia,  and  Macon 
county,  North  Carolina,  and  flows  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  through  Eabun  county,  draining  an  area  of 
155  square  miles,  and  the  latter  of  which  rises  in  Jackson  county,  North  Carolina,  and  flows  in  a  southwesterly 
direction,  forming  the  boundary -line  between  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  draining  an  area  of  about  294  square 
miles.  The  Tugaloo  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  between  the  two  states,  its  length  being  about  35  miles  in  a 
straight  line  and  49  by  the  course  of  the  stream,  and  its  total  drainage  area  at  its  mouth  being  870  square  miles, 
or  421  square  miles  exclusive  of  the  Chatuga  and  the  Tallulah.  .  Its  principal  tributaries  are  :  from  South  Carolina, 
Big  Beaverdam,  Choestoe,  and  Chauga  creeks,  the  last  draining  71  square  miles;  and  from  Georgia,  Shoal,  Toccoa, 
and  Panther  creeks,  all  small  streams. 

The  drainage-basin  of  the  Tugaloo  river  proper  has  no  peculiarities  that  have  not  been  already  referred  to  in 
describing  the  middle  and  western  divisions  of  the  southern  Atlantic  water-shed  in  the  introduction.  There  is 
some  limestone  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basin.  The  river  flows  over  a  rocky  bed,  broken  in  places  by  shoals,  but 
by  none  of  importance  except  in  the  last  8  miles  of  its  course.  Its  declivity  is  gradual,  and  its  water-power  not  of 
much  value.  It  is  bordered  by  considerable  tracts  of  fertile  bottom-land,  sometimes  overflowed,  although  the 
freshets  were  not  stated  to  be  very  violent.  The  elevation  of  the  stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Atlanta  and 
Charlotte  Air-line  railroad,  about  36 J  miles  from  its  mouth,  is  about  638  feet,  while  that  of  its  mouth  is  400  feet; 
so  that  the  fall  is  238  feet  in  36^  miles,  or  at  the  rate  of  6J  feet  per  mile.  The  rainfall  in  the  whole  drainage-basin 
is  about  56  inches — 15  in  spring,  15  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  16  in  winter.  There  are  no  records  of  gaugings. 
The  stream  is  not  very  accessible,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  map,  the  nearest  railroad  point  to  the  mouth  being 
Hartwell,  5  miles  distant,  while  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad  crosses  the  river  almost  at  right 
angles. 

There  is  not  a  mill  on  the  stream,  and  there  are  only  a  few  places  suitable  for  power.  The  first  site  is  Hatton's 
shoal,  one  and  a  half  miles  long,  with  a  fall  of  39  feet,  as  ascertained  by  the  barometer.*  The  foot  of  this  shoal  is 
about  2£  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  and  its  head  is  just  below  the  mouth  of  Beaverdam  creek.  The 
width  of  the  stream  at  the  foot  is  150  feet,  but  in  the  course  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  it  widens  to  1,400  feet,  and  the 
water  is  very  shallow.  At  one  point  there  is  a  perpendicular  fall  of  2  feet,  but  the  fall  is,  with  this  exception, 
quite  gradual.  The  country  is  quite  broken  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  up  to  above  the  shoal,  and  at  the  shoal 
itself  the  banks  are  quite  high,  especially  on  the  South  Carolina  side,  so  that  a  canal  could  be  built  only  with  great 
difficulty  on  this  side.  The  Georgia  side  is  more  favorable,  and  could  probably  be  canaled ;  but  I  had  no  opportunity 
to  examine  the  site  thoroughly.  There  was  once  a  mill  near  the  foot  of  the  shoal  on  the  Georgia  side  with  a 
wing-dam  and  a  fall  of  5  or  6  feet,  the  banks  being  tolerably  low  on  that  side  for  half  a  mile  or  so.  The  drainage 
area  above  the  shoal  being  about  845  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the  power  as  in  the  table,  p.  137.  It  must  be 
remarked,  however,  that  the  fall,  as  determined  by  the  barometer,  is  so  liable  to  error,  that  little  dependence  is  to 
be  placed  on  the  result;  and  it  was  thought  by  persons  acquainted  with  the  river  that  the  fall  does  not  amount  to 
39  feet. 

*  Annual  Report  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  754. 

796 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  of  power  on  Hattoti's  shoals,  Tugaloo  river. 


137 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


FalL 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


Sq.  miles.  Feet. 


Minimum  .  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage. 
Low  season,  dry  years... 


845 


*39 


1  foot  fall. 
24 
29 
105 

33 


39  feet  fall. 

936 
1,131 
4,  095 
1,  287 


*  As  determined  by  barometer. 

The  next  shoal  is  Guest's,  the  fall  being  stated  at  17  feet  in  a  mile,  as  found  by  the  barometer.  This  shoal  was 
stated  to  be  of  little  value  for  water-power.  In  the  table  on  page  131  is  an  estimate  of  the  power,  assuming  the 
fall  at  17  feet. 

As  the  mountains  are  approached  the  fall  of  the  stream  becomes  more  rapid,  and  for  a  mile  and  a  half  below 
the  junction  of  the  Ohatuga  and  the  Tallulah  the  fall  is  at  the  rate  of  30  feet  to  the  mile.*  The  country  is  rough  here, 
the  banks  abrupt,  and  the  site  inaccessible.   Its  value  for  manufacturing  is  probably  small. 

The  width  of  the  Tugaloo  is  310  yards  at  its  mouth,  50  yards  above  Guest's  shoal,  40  yards  at  the  crossing  of 
the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad,  and  150  yards  at  the  junction  of  the  Chatuga  and  the  Tallulah. 

There  is  some  power  on  a  few  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Tugaloo,  although  it  is  not  extensive.  Little  Beaverdain 
creek,  which  enters  at  the  mouth  from  South  Carolina,  has  one  power  at  its  month,  where  there  used  to  be  a  yarn- 
mill,  using  the  Clement  attachment,  but  the  }Dower  is  now  used  for  a  saw-  and  grist-mill.  The  fall  used  is  20  feet, 
but  it  could  be  increased  to  25  or  30  feet  by  raising  the  dam.  The  power,  however,  is  very  small,  not  over  25  to  30 
horse-power  in  a  low  season.  Big  Beaverdam  creek,  which  enters  at  the  head  of  Hatton's  shoals,  has  a  large  fall 
near  the  mouth,  said  to  be  65  feet  or  more  in  a  mile,  and  at  one  place  almost  30  feet  in  one  pitch.  This  stream, 
however,  is  also  small,  and  in  dry  weather  will  give  probably  not  over  one  horse-power  per  foot  fall.  Shoal  creekr 
Georgia,  enters  10  miles  above  Guest's  shoal,  and  has  several  shoals  and  mills,  including  one  cotton-mill,  a  mile  or 
so  from  the  mouth,  using  26  feet  fall  and  15  or  20  horse-power.  The  falls  on  the  creek  are  large,  Parker's  grist- 
mill having  a  fall  of  16  feet,  and  his  wool-carding  mill  a  fall  of  20  feet.  Choestoe  creek,  from  South  Carolina,  is  a 
similar  stream,  but  its  water-power  is  not  so  extensive.  Chauga  creek,  from  South  Carolina,  is  a  more  considerable 
stream,  and  enters  2£  miles  below  the  railroad  crossing.  It  drains  about  71  square  miles,  according  to  the  map 
used,  which,  however,  is  inaccurate.  The  stream  has  little  bottom-land,  and  is  subject  to  heavy  freshets,  which 
sometimes  rise  very  suddenly.  The  first  power  on  it  is  Gilmer's  mill,  half  a  mile  above  the  railroad  and  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  Fort  Madison,  with  a  fall  of  about  12  feet.  Farther  up.  are  other  sites,  and  near  its  head  is 
a  fall  of  60  feet  in  one-fourth  of  a  mile.  On  its  upper  waters  are  a  number  of  precipitous  descents,  but  of  no 
value  for  water-power.  One  little  tributary  to  the  Tugaloo  above  the  Chauga  has  a  perpendicular  fall  of  60  feet 
near  its  mouth;  and  on  Toccoa  creek,  a  very  small  stream,  draining  25  or  30  square  miles,  are  the  famous  Toccoa 
falls,  where  the  stream  falls  183  feet  perpendicularly.  The  place  is  much  frequented  by  tourists,  but  the  water- 
power  is  of  no  practical  value. 

The  Chatuga  river  is  a  mountain  stream,  with  considerable  fall,  and  no  doubt  numerous  sites  for  power, 
but  nothing  could  be  learned  of  any  particular  ones.  Its  flow  is  subject  to  great  fluctuations,  and  its  inaccessibility 
renders  its  water-power  of  small  value.  It  is  150  yards  wide  at  its  mouth,  with  very  precipitous  banks,  and  the 
surrounding  hills  are  from  800  to  1,000  feet  high. 

The  Tallulah  river  is  similar  in  character  to  the  Chatuga.  The  Tallulah  falls,  about  15  miles  from  Toccoa  city, 
on  the  railroad,  and  10  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  is  a  noted  place  of  resort,  and  one  of  the  wildest  and 
most  picturesque  spots  in  the  state.  The  stream  flows  through  a  narrow  gorge,  with  very  high  banks,  and  descends 
in  a  series  of  pitches  (four  of  which  have  perpendicular  heights  of  from  50  to  80  feet),  falling,  it  is  said,  500  or  600 
feet  in  a  mile.  Its  width  varies  from  15  to  100  feet.  At  the  head  and  the  foot  of  the  falls  the  banks  are  of  ordinary 
height,  but  in  the  intermediate  distance  they  are  from  200  to  800  feet  high,  rising  almost  perpendicularly  from  the  bed 
of  the  stream,  and  rendering  the  utilization  of  the  water-power  quite  impracticable.  There  are,  in  fact,  only  two  or 
three  places  where  it  is  at  all  possible  to  descend  to  the  bed  of  the  stream,  and  these  are  the  beds  of  small  rivulets 
emptying  into  the  river,  t  The  drainage  area  above  these  falls  is  about  147  square  miles,  so  that  I  would 
estimate  the  flow  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years  at  about  44  cubic  feet  per  second,  corresponding  to  5  horse- 
power per  foot  fall.  The  theoretically  available  power  is  therefore  large,  but  practically  the  power  is  of  no  value. 
The  romantic  beauty  and  wildness  of  this  place  is  said  to  be  beyond  description,  and  its  praises  are  sounded  by  all 
who  have  visited  it. 

Before  leaving  the  Tugaloo  river,  it  is  to  be  mentioned  that  its  headwaters  are  not  far  distant  from  those  of 
the  Hiawassee,  a  navigable  branch  of  the  Tennessee,  and  that  it  is  proposed  to  open  a  line  of  water  communication 
between  the  Atlantic  coast  and  the  West  by  connecting  the  two  streams  by  a  canal. 


*  Annual  Report  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  1879,  p.  755. 
t  White's  statistics  of  the  state  of  Georgia,  1849. 


797 


138 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


THE  SENECA  RIVER. 

This  river,  with  the  Tugaloo,  makes  up  the  Savannah,  and,  like  so  many  streams  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
is  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  smaller  streams — the  Keowee  river  and  Twelve-Mile  creek  (or  river) — which  unite  on 
the  line  between  Oconee  and  Pickens  counties,  South  Carolina.  The  Keowee  has  its  headwaters  in  the  mountains 
of  Jackson  county,  North  Carolina,  and  pursues  a  southerly  course  between  the  two  counties  above  mentioned, 
draining  an  area  of  about  405  square  miles,  while  Twelve-Mile  creek  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Pickens 
county,  and  flows  a  little  west  of  south,  draining  about  118  square  miles.  From  the  junction  of  these  two  the 
Seneca  flows  in  a  general  southerly  direction,  its  length  being  nearly  20  miles  in  a  straight  line,  and  the  total  area 
drained  being  908  square  miles,  or  385  square  miles  exclusive  of  the  basins  of  the  two  headwaters.  It  receives  as  its 
principal  tributaries:  from  the  east,  Deep  creek,  formed  by  the  union  of  Twenty-three  Mile  and  Twenty-six  Mile  creeks, 
and  draining  150  square  miles,  and  Eighteen-Mile  creek,  draining  49  square  miles  ;  and  from  the  west,  Conneross  creek, 
draining  about  93  square  miles.  The  character  of  the  drainage-basin  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Tugaloo,  except  that 
there  are  perhaps  more  bottom-lands,  the  banks  being  generally  rather  low.  It  is  said  not  to  rise  so  suddenly  or 
so  high  as  the  Tugaloo ;  and,  like  that  stream,  it  has  not  a  single  mill.  The  stream  is  crossed  nearly  at  right- 
angles  just  below  the  junction  of  its  headwaters  by  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad,  and  several  miles 
below  by  the  Blue  Ridge  railroad.  The  fall  of  the  stream  averages  between  7.3  and  8.75  feet  per  mile,  if  its  length 
is  assumed  at  25  or  30  miles.  Its  elevation  at  its  head  is  619  feet,  and  at  its  mouth  400.  The  rainfall  is  the  same 
as  in  the  basin  of  the  Tugaloo. 

There  are  several  small  shoals  on  the  stream,  but  only  one  of  importance.  There  is  a  small  shoal  at  the 
nioutb,  with  a  fall  of  3  or  4  feet,  capable  of  being  increased,  and  another  similar  one  at  Earle's  bridge,  4£  miles 
above;  but  the  principal  one  is  Portman's  shoal,  5  miles  from  the  mouth,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Eighteen-Mile 
creek,  and  just  above  the  mouth  of  Deep  creek,  and  of  which  the  shoal  at  Earle's  bridge  is  simply  a  continuation. 
This  shoal  is  the  most  important  one  in  the  vicinity,  and  is  now  entirely  unimproved,  although  some  years  ago  a 
small  amount  of  power  was  used  for  iron  works.  There  is  said  to  be  an  abundance  of  high-grade  iron  ore  in  the 
vicinity,  but  a  great  scarcity  of  fuel,  and  no  lime  within  ten  miles.  For  my  information  regarding  these  shoals  I 
am  indebted  to  Major  T.  B.  Lee,  civil  and  hydraulic  engineer,  of  Anderson,  who  owns  the  shoals,  or  a  part  of  them. 
The  total  fall  is  about  60  feet  in  a  distance  of  2  miles,  but  there  is  no  prominent  fall,  except  at  the  lower  end,  where 
there  is  in  one  place  a  natural  fall  of  9  feet  in  a  short  distance.  A  dam  6  feet  high  and  a  race  of  500  yards  long  would 
give  a  fall  of  20  feet  with  a  favorable  building  location,  and  a  dam  10  feet  high,  with  a  race  of  800  yards  long,  would 
afford  a  fall  of  30  feet.  The  dam  would  be  about  600  feet  long,  and  there  is  in  the  immediate  vicinity  an  abundance 
of  material  for  building.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock  and  gravel,  and  the  banks  favorable  for  canals  and  for 
building,  except  in  a  few  places,  where  the  banks  are  bluffy.  This  shoal  is  10  miles  from  Anderson  and  6  miles 
from  the  Blue  Ridge  railroad.    A  new  railroad  is  said  to  be  projected,  which  will  pass  less  than  a  mile  from  the  place. 

The  drainage  area  above  being  about  740  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the  power  as  in  the  following  table: 

Table  of  flow  and  power  at  Portman's  shoals. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


740 


Fall. 


Feet. 


CO 


Horse-power  available,  gross. 


It  must  be  especially  mentioned  here  that  Major  Lee,  who  is  an  engineer  of  eminence  and  of  long  experience, 
and  well  acquainted  with  the  country,  writes  that  "  1,000  cubic  feet  of  water  per  second  all  the  year  round — two- 
thirds  of  the  year  double  this  flow— is  to  be  had  ".  I  do  not,  however,  understand  this  result  to  be  based  on  a 
continued  series  of  gaugings,  but  I  have  thought  best  to  call  attention  to  it,  and  to  the  differences  between  this  and 
the  estimates  in  the  table  above.  I  have  in  many  places  sufficiently  emphasized  the  fact  that  the  latter  must  be 
liable  to  many  errors ;  and  I  must  further  state  here  that  just  in  this  part  of  the  state  of  South  Carolina  I  have 
discovered  a  number  of  errors  in  the  map  I  have  used.  I  can  scarcely  think,  however,  that  the  measurement  of 
the  drainage  area  is  in  error  by  more  than  10  per  cent.,  and  even  if  my  estimates  are  increased  by  that  fraction  they 
Avill  still  be  very  much  less  than  Major  Lee's.  As  for  my  method  of  making  the  calculation,  I  have  already  said 
enough  in  the  introduction,  and  on  pages  107  and  108.  Major  Lee  states  that  there  are  facilities  on  the  upper 
Seneca,  as  well  as  on  the  Saluda,  for  the  construction  of  storage-reservoirs.  It  is  therefore  possible  that  the 
maximum  power,  with  storage,  might  be  rendered  practically  available,  and  it  might  even  be  possible  to  concentrate 

798 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


139 


the  power  to  some  extent  into  working  Lours.  This  power,  situated  in  a  fine  cotton-growing  country  (Anderson 
county  produced  last  year  40,000  bales,  according  to  Major  Lee),  having  a  healthy  and  salubrious  climate,  is  worthy 
the  attention  of  capitalists. 

Above  Portman's  shoals  there  are  a  few  small  shoals  on  the  Seneca,  but  none  of  value.  Hen  shoal, 
sometimes  spoken  of,  has,  according  to  Major  Lee,  only  a  fall  of  a  few  feet.  It  is  just  above  the  month  of  the 
Conneross,  6  miles  from  Pendleton  and  11  miles  from  Seneca. 

Estimates  of  the  total  theoretical  power  of  the  Seneca,  and  other  streams  tributary  to  the  Savannah,  are  not 
given,  because  they  would  have  no  value,  on  account  of  such  a  small  proportion  of  that  power  being  practically 
available. 

TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  SENECA  RIVER. 

The  power  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Seneca  is  of  more  importance  than  that  of  the  main  stream  if  Portman's 
shoals  are  not  considered.  The  first  tributary  is  Deep  creek,  which  enters  just  below  the  shoal  just  named,  draining 
150  square  miles,  and  formed  by  the  union  of  Twenty-three  Mile  and  Twenty-six  Mile  creeks.  It  is  a  deep  and  sluggish 
stream,  with  no  power  whatever.  Twenty-six  Mile  creek  is  a  small  stream,  entirely  in  Anderson  county,  and  drains 
some  50  square  miles.  Above  Centreville  it  is  very  fiat,  with  small  fall  and  low  banks.  The  bed  is  sand,  mud,  and 
gravel,  the  banks  clay,  and  the  course  of  the  stream  tortuous.  At  and  near  Centreville,  which  is  2  miles  from  its 
mouth  (junction  with  Twenty-three  Mile  creek),  the  stream  falls  quite  suddenly,  and  for  the  rest  of  its  course  flows 
considerably  below  the  general  level  of  the  surrounding  country.  There  are  two  grist-mills  on  the  stream  above 
Centreville,  and  one  at  that  place  using  a  fall  of  14  feet ;  but  the  available  fall  is  said  to  amount  to  26  feet,  which 
could  be  utilized  by  building  a  dam  higher  up.  The  place  is  favorable  for  building,  and  the  power  is  a  good  one, 
though  small.  The  tributaries  near  Centreville  have  large  falls  near  their  mouths;  for  example,  on  Emery  creek 
there  is  a  fall  of  60  feet,  and  on  Hurricane  creek  a  similar  one.  Twenty-three  Mile  creek  is  considerably  larger 
than  the  last,  draining  87  square  miles  or  thereabout.  It  has  its  sources  in  Pickens  and  Anderson  counties.  The 
upper  part  is  flat,  like  the  stream  last  described,  and  its  general  character  is  the  same;  while  on  the  lower  part 
there  are  several  powers.  Descending  the  stream,  the  first  power  is  at  Pendleton  cotton  factory,  where  the  fall  is  25 
to  30  feet.  I  have  received  no  information  regarding  the  power,  but  it  probably  does  not  exceed  60  horse-power.* 
Below  it  is  Burns'  shoal,  not  used,  where  a  dam  15  or  20  feet  high  could  be  built  without  interfering  with  the  factory 
above,  and  that  amount  of  fall  utilized.  Below  is  a  grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  6  feet,  although  14  could  be  got,  with  a 
good  building-place.  The  country  is  high  and  rocky  on  each  side.  The  lowest  power  on  the  stream  is  a  mill  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  its  mouth,  where  there  is  a  natural  fall  in  the  stream  of  35  feet  or  more  in  300  yards, 
but  not  a  very  favorable  place  to  build,  and  difficult  of  access.  The  stream  is  very  rapid,  and  shut  in  by  hills  on 
both  sides.  This  fall  corresponds  to  Portman's  shoal  on  the  Seneca,  and  is  probably  caused  by  the  same  ledge  of 
rocks. 

The  next  tributary  is  Eighteen-Mile  creek,  which  enters  the  Seneca  just  above  Portman's  shoal.  It  drains  about 
50  square  miles,  corresponds  in  general  character  with  the  two  streams  last  described,  and  has  no  power  except 
near  its  mouth,  where  there  is  a  mill  with  a  fall  of  12  feet,  and  nearly  twice  as  much  available.  It  is  not  a  note- 
worthy site. 

Conneross  creek,  from  the  west,  is  the  next  tributary.  It  is  about  22  miles  long  in  a  straight  line,  and  drains 
an  area  of  about  93  square  miles,  all  in  Oconee  county,  except  a  few  square  miles  near  the  mouth.  Its  drainage-basin 
is  long  and  narrow,  and  its  fall  rapid.  Its  bed  is  rock,  its  banks  generally  good,  and  it  is  in  all  respects  a  better  stream 
for  water-power  than  the  tributaries  thus  far  named,  except  that  it  may  be  subject  to  heavier  freshets.  The  lowest 
shoal  on  the  stream  is  owned  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Sitton,  of  Pendleton,  and  is  5  or  6  miles  from  the  mouth.  It  is  utilized 
by  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  using  18J  feet  fall,  with  a  dam  30  inches  high  and  a  race  80  feet  long.  The  total  available  fall 
is  stated  at  31  feet,  over  a  solid  rock  ledge — there  being  two  falls,  the  lower  one  only  being  used,  and  the  upper  one 
being  only  250  or  300  feet  above.  The  stream  is  about  70  feet  wide,  and  the  banks  favorable.  This  shoal  is 
favorably  located,  and  is  5  miles  from  Seneca,  on  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-line  railroad. 

A  mile  and  a  half  above  is  another  large  shoal,  known  as  Swepson's  or  High  shoals,  also  5  miles  from  Seneca. 
It  was  formerly  known  as  Anderson's  mill-site.  The  fall  is  very  large,  amounting,  it  is  said,  to  50  feet  or  more  in 
a  few  hundred  yards.  It  is  said,  however,  to  be  difficult  to  utilize,  on  account  of  the  high  bluffs  on  each  side. 
A  large  reservoir  could  be  formed  above  the  shoals,  but  not  without  overflowing  much  good  land.  Above  this  there 
are  no  large  falls,  except  far  up  the  stream,  where  there  is  in  one  place  a  fall  of  26  feet,  and  probably  there  are  others. 
Major  Lee  states  that  Conneross  creek  is  a  remarkably  constant  stream,  varying  very  little  in  flow  from  season  to 
season.  Estimates  of  power  are  omitted  as  unnecessary.  If  desired,  they  may  be  arrived  at  by  comparing  with 
those  given  for  some  of  the  following  streams. 

Twelve-Mile  creek,  one  of  those  streams  which  unite  to  form  the  Seneca,  is  comprised  entirely  in  Pickens  county, 
and  is  formed  by  the  union  of  three  forks.  As  already  mentioned,  it  drains  an  area  of  118  square  miles.  Its  basin 
is  mountainous  in  the  upper  part,  and  the  three  forks  have  large  falls,  but  are  very  small  streams.    After  leaving  the 

*  Power  stated  at  40  laor&e-power  in  statistics  of  cotton-mills. 

799 


140 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


mountains,  the  stream  flows  through  a  level  country  and  resembles  Eighteen-Mile,  Twenty -three  Mile,  and  Twenty- 
six  Mile  creeks,  only  in  this  case  the  country  is  not  quite  so  flat  as  in  the  others,  and  the  banks  are  generally  higher 
and  not  so  subject  to  overflow.  The  stream  is  subject  to  heavy  freshets  and  to  more  sudden  fluctuations  than  the 
others;  its  bed  and  banks  are  rockier,  and  its  fall  greater.  Toward  the  mouth  of  the  stream  the  fall  is  rapid,  and 
there  are  several  powers  worth  mentioning.  The  first  one  met  with  in  ascending  the  stream  is  Winn's,  not  improved, 
about  2  or  3  miles  from  Central,  on  the  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air  line  railroad.  This  shoal  has  a  length  of  about 
one  and  a  quarter  to  one  and  a  half  miles,  with  an  almost  continuous  fall.  In  the  lower  half  mile  the  fall  is  not  less 
than  25  feet,  as  ascertained  with  a  pocket-level,  and  it  is  said  to  continue  at  the  same  rate  to  the  head.  The  shoal 
is,  however,  confined  between  steep  banks,  which  would  present  difficulty  in  canaling,  although  a  canal  would  be 
practicable  on  the  left  bank.  There  is  building  room  at  the  foot  of  the  shoal.  I  was  unable  to  examine  it  from 
head  to  foot,  but  I  think  that  a  large  fall  could  be  obtained  here,  although  it  might  be  best  to  obtain  it  by  a  dam 
near  the  foot  and  with  a  short  canal.  The  left  bank  is  low  for  100  feet  from  the  river,  but  this  part  is  liable  to 
overflow  to  some  extent,  and  further  back  the  bank  is  exceedingly  steep.  The  river  is  about  125  feet  wide,  and  the 
bottom  is  favorable  for  dams ;  so  that  I  think  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  developing  the  power.  At  the  head  of 
the  shoal  there  is  an  abrupt  fall  of  10  feet,  known  as  Clayton's  shoals,  used  by  Eobertson's  saw-  and  grist-mill, 
about  three  miles  from  Central.  The  dam  is  only  1£  feet  high  and  175  feet  long,  diagonally  across  the  stream,  and 
the  banks  are  favorable  and  safe.  The  fall  continues  for  one-eighth  mile  above  the  dam,  which  could  be  made  10 
feet  high,  and  a  fall  of  20  feet  used,  if  desired.  The  fall  occurs  over  a  ledge  of  gneiss-rock,  and  the  power  is  an 
excellent  one,  though  small.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  or  so  below  is  a  place 
known  as  the  "narrows",  where  the  stream  rushes  swiftly  between  steep  banks,  and  is  very  narrow. 
I  subjoin  an  estimate  of  the  power  at  this  place,  based  on  analogy,  as  an  approximation : 


Table  of  flow  and  power  of  Twelve-Mile  ereeJc. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power, 
gross. 

%■ 

Remarks. 

Sq.  miles. 
|  118 

Feet. 
(*) 

Cubic  feet. 

1  1 

135 

I  24 

1  foot  fall. 

1.  70 
2.40 

15.40 

2.  75 

Drainage  area  given  is  that  of 
\    the  stream  at  its  mouth — too 
1    large  for  the  shoal  just  de- 
J  scribed. 

*  Probahly  in  all  not  less  than  50  to  60.  . 


If  the  stream  is  fed  extensively  by  springs,  its  flow  will  be  larger  in  dry  seasons.  In  ordinary  years  it  would 
afford  in  the  low  season,  according  to  the  above  estimate,  3£  horse-power  per  foot,  and  two  or  three  times  as  much 
for  nine  months  of  the  year.  It  may  be  remarked  that  the  flow  of  Conneross  creek  would  probably  not  differ  much 
from  that  of  the  one  under  consideration. 

Half  a  mile  above  Eobertson's  mill  there  is  a  small  shoal  with  a  fall  of  about  5  feet,  and  then  the  stream  is 
sluggish  for  over  a  mile,  when  we  come  to  a  second  shoal,  extending  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more,  at  the  head  of 
which  is  Hunter's  mill,  with  a  dam  5  or  6  feet  high  and  a  fall  of  11  feet,  and  no  race.  Above  this  there  are  no 
shoals  for  8  miles,  where  the  stream  is  so  small  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  particularize  further.  The  estimates 
given  above  are,  I  think,  rather  too  small,  and  it  would  seem  as  though  the  streams  in  this  vicinity  were  subject  to 
smaller  variations  in  volume  than  would  be  expected.  I  have  already  referred  to  the  constant  flow  of  Conneross 
creek,  and  it  is  probable  that  this  stream  is  similar  in  that  respect.  I  was  told  at  Hunter's  mill  that  they  could  run 
four  pair  of  stones  all  the  time.    Data,  however,  are  entirely  wanting  for  an  accurate  estimate. 

The  Keowee  river,  which,  with  Twelve-Mile  creek,  forms  the  Seneca,  has  its  sources  among  the  mountains,  and 
is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Toxaway  and  the  Big  Estatoe  creeks  in  the  northern  part  of  Pickens  and  Oconee 
counties.  It  flows  south,  and  drains  a  total  area  of  405  square  miles.  The  upper  part  of  the  basin  abounds  in 
precipitous  falls  and  cataracts  of  great  beauty,  although  valueless  for  water-power.  The  Whitewater  creek  is  so 
named  on  account  of  its  numerous  cascades ;  and  at  one  place  there  is  a  fall  of  000  feet  in  300  yards,*  with  numerous 
smaller  falls.  On  another  stream  in  the  vicinity  there  is  a  fall  greater  in  height  than  that  of  Niagara  in  one  pitch.* 
Another  small  branch  of  the  Keowee  has  two  falls  of  nearly  50  feet,  each  close  together,  and  200  yards  below  a 
fall  of  80  feet.  Another  has  a  perpendicular  fall  of  130  feet.  The  Keowee  itself— whose  name  is  said  to  mean 
clear  water — is  a  beautiful  stream,  flowing  with  a  gradual  fall  over  a  rock  bed,  and  draining  a  very  picturesque 
valley.  It  is  entirely  unutilized  for  power,  and  I  was  unable  to  learn  of  any  particular  sites,  although  there  must 
be  some.  Among  its  tributaries,  many  of  which  are  utilized  to  some  extent,  the  principal  one  is  Little  river,  a 
stream  rising  in  the  northern  part  of  Oconee  county,  only  a  few  miles  from  the  Chatuga  river,  and  flowing  a  little 
east  of  south  for  a  distance  of  18  or  20  miles,  draining  about  140  square  miles.  It  is  a  good  stream  for  power,  and 
has  several  falls  and  mills  in  various  places.   The  rainfall  on  all  this  upper  part  of  South  Carolina  is  about  the  same 

*  Mills  :  Statistics  of  South  Carolina. 

800 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


141 


as  on  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Tugaloo,  viz,  56  inches — 15  in  spriug  and  summer,  10  in  autumu,  and  16  in  winter. 
I  would  therefore  estimate  the  flow  of  the  Little  river  at  its  mouth  about  as  follows : 

Table  of  flow  and  power  of  Little  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21) . 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  — 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles 


The  first  power  on  the  stream  is  Seaburn's  shoal,  a  mile  from  the  railroad  and  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  and 
three  or  four  miles  from  Seneca.  It  was  formerly  used  by  a  saw-mill,  but  is  now  unimproved.  The  fall  is  13£  feet, 
which  could  be  used  with  a  canal  800  feet  long,  very  easy  to  cut.  The  proper  location  for  a  mill  is  on  the  left  bank, 
at  the  foot  of  the  shoal,  the  right  bank  being  steep.  Just  above  this  shoal  Cain  creek,  the  principal  tributary  of  Little 
river,  enters.  Less  than  a  mile  above  is  a  second  unutilized  shoal,  but  I  am  uuable  to  state  the  fall.  The  uext 
power  is  High  shoals,  a  beautiful  shoal,  where  the  river  falls  over  a  ledge  of  solid  gneiss-rock,  descending  24  feet 
almost  perpendicularly,  with  rapids  above  for  some  distance,  and  a  total  fall  of  about  35  feet.  The  banks  are  high, 
but  very  favorable  for  building,  and  the  power  is  in  all  respects  an  excellent  one.  It  is  used  by  a  tannery  on  the 
left  bank,  utilizing  a  fall  of  14  feet  and  15  to  16  horse-power,  with  a  flume  500  feet  long  and  2  feet  square,  and  an 
overshot- wheel,  and  on  the  right  bank  by  a  saw-  and  grist-mill  and  cotton-gin,  using  10  horse-power  and  24  feet  fall. 
The  dam  is  of  wood,  2  to  3  feet  high,  and  125  to  150  feet  long,  extending  in  a  broken  line  entirely  across  the  stream. 
Just  above  this  is  a  fall  of  6  feet  in  500,  and  a  3-foot  dam  at  the  upper  end  of  this  last  shoal,  it  is  said,  would  back  up 
the  water  a  mile  or  over.  The  power  is  9  miles  from  Seneca,  10  miles  from  Walhalla,  and  is  owned  by  Sligh  & 
Woodin,  High  Falls  post-office.  The  drainage  area  above  this  shoal  being  not  over  60  or  70  square  miles,  I  should 
estimate  the  power  in  the  low-season  of  dry  and  ordinary  years  at  1.2  horse-power  and  L}  horse-power  per  foot  fall 
respectively,  and  three  times  as  much  during  nine  months.  But  as  my  measurements  of  drainage  areas,  especially 
of  so  small  ones,  are  liable  to  considerable  error,  these  figures  are  not  very  valuable.  Above  these  falls  there  are 
several  others,  one  with  14  feet  fall,  used  by  a  tannery  ;  two  others,  150  yards  apart,  with  falls  of  20  and  16  feet 
respectively,  and  another  right  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  with  a  fall  of  50  or  60  feet. 

Cain  creek,  the  principal  tributary  of  Little  river,  drains  50  or  60  square  miles,  and  has  one  shoal,  not  used,  with 
40  feet  fall — the  Schroeder  shoal.  . 

Table  of  utilized  power  on  the  Savannah  river. 


Name  of  stream. 


Savannah  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Little  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  to 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  to  what. 


Atlantic  ocean . 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

Savannah  

......do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


State. 


Georgia  

South  Carolina. 

 do  

 do  

Georgia  

 do  

 do  

 do  

.....do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


County. 


Kichmcnd. 
Abbeville. 

. .  .do  

Anderson . 

Lincoln  

Elbert  

Effingham. 

Bmke  

Richmond. 

...do  

. .  do  

...do   


-do   Lincoln. 


1012  w  P— VOL  16- 


-51 


 do  

 do  ....... 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  

*  See  Augusta. 


...do   

McDuffie. 
Wilkes.... 
Warren . . . 

Greene  

Columbia. 

...do   

McDuffie.. 

...do  

Warren . . . 
...do   


Kind  of  mill. 


Miscellaneous*  . 
Flour  and  grist. 

Saw  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist. 

...  do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist. 

....do   

Saw  

Cotton  factory. . 

Woolen  

Saw    , 

Flour  and  grist. 

...do   

...  do  

...do  

Saw  and  grist . . 
Flour  and  grist. 

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist. 

....do   

Saw  


Feet. 


12.0 
8.0 
12.0 
14.5 
19.0 
0.0 
72.0 
125.0 
100.0 
9.0 
9.0 
24  0 
30.0 
9.0 
8.0 
8.0 
14.0 
69.0 
10.0 


3,  050 

8 
8 
20 
32 
115 
20 
96 
190 
209 
50 
45 
45 
00 
60 
8 
30 
15 
91 
25 


127.0 
20.0 
12.0 

801 


152 
15 
12 


142 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Table  of  utilized  power  on  the  Savannah  river — Continued. 


Name  of  stream. 


Broad  river  and  tributaries. 
Do  

Do  

Do  

Do    

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  7. ...... 

Tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

"  Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Horse  creek   

Do  

Do  

Do  

Little  river  

Do_  

Do  

Rocky  river  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  :.. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  •.  

Do  ,  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  to  what. 


Savannah . 

 do  .-. 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

  do  . . . 

.....'.do  ... 

 do  ... 


 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  . . . 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

Savannah. 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

......do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  . . . 

 do  ... 

  do  . . . 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

Seneca. . .-. 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

Tugaloo . . . 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 

 do  ... 


State. 


County. 


Georgia   Oglethorpe. 

 do   Madison  

 do  1  do  

 do   Elbert  

 do   Franklin  . . 

 do   do  

 do  j  do  

  do   Banks  

  do  !  do  

 do  !  "Wilkes   

 do   Elbert  .... 

 do  

 do  

 do  

 do  


Kind  of  mill. 


Tugaloo   ■   do 


.do 
do 
.do 


....do 
Hart  . 
...do 
...do 
...do 
...  do 
..do 
...do 


 do   Habersham . 

 do   do  

 do   do  

 do   do  

 do  j  Rabun  

South  Carolina   Aiken  

 do  | . . .  do  

 do  .•  I  do  

 do  ....... do  

 do  I  Abbeville. . . 

 do   do  

 do   do  

 do  I  do  

 do  !  do  

 do   Anderson  . . 

 do  '  Barnwell . . . 

 do  I  do  

 do  I  do  

 do  I  Aiken  

 do  I  do  

 do   do  

  do  ;  do  

 do  !  Edgefield... 


.do  do  

.do   Abbeville. 

.do  do  

.do   Anderson. 

do  j  do  

.do  — do  — 

.do  I  do  

.do  j  do  

.do   do  

do  \  Oconee  

do   Anderson  . 

.do   do  

.do  — do  ...  . 

.do  |  Oconee  

.do  

.do  


Seneca  do 


.do  . 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 


do 

do 
.do 


do 
do 
.do 
.do 
do 
do 


.do  j  Pickens. 

.do   do  ... 

.do   do  ... 


Flour  and  grist 

...do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist. 

...do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist 

.  do  

...do   

Saw.... 

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw.  

Cotton-gin   

Saw.  

Flour  and  grist- 
Cotton  factory. . 
Wool-carding . . . 
Flour  and  grist 

Leather  

Saw  

Woolen  

Saw  

Paper  

Cotton  factory. . 
Flour  and  grist. 

Stoneware.  

Flour  snd  grist. 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist. 
....do  ............ 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist. 

....do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

...do  

Saw  

Cotton  yarn  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do  

Saw  

...do   

Flour  and  grist. 

...do   

Saw  

...do  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Cotton-gin  

Cotton  factory . . 

Woolen  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist. 

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Cotton  factory . . 

Saw  

Leather  

Wheelwright... 
Flour  and  grist  . 

....do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  


S  6 


Feet 

10 

1!>5.  0 

175 

10 

145.  0 

281 

5 ' 

61.0 

64 

3 

44.0 

39 

9 

163 

.4, 

56. 

0 

54 

G 

83. 

0 

53 

1 

18. 

0 

20 

12 

169. 

0 

279 

W: 

85. 

0 

75 

6 

73. 

0 

134 

1 

14. 

0 

12 

11 

194 

0 

156 

14. 

15 

8 

99. 

o 

CO 

1 

30. 

0 

10 

g 

0 

45 

1 

26. 

0 

20 

1 

20. 

0 

44 

4 

47. 

0 

46 

1 

16 

0 

6 

3 

46. 

0 

.'8 

1 

6 

1 

14.0 

8 

1 

38.0 

500? 

3 

115.0 

1.  200 

2 

26 

0 

40 

2 

24.  0 

67 

3 

33.0 

83 

1 

9. 

0 

15 

1 

0 

12 

4 

37.  0 

53 

3 

62.0 

69' 

6 

54.0 

80 

1 

8.0 

20 

4 

36.0 

43. 

3 

23.0 

32 

6 

63.0 

122 

1 

15 

144.0 

2!)« 

21 

465 

2 

19.0 

32 

2 

16.0 

25 

16 

210.0 

267 

13 

195.0 

149 

5 

124.0 

66 

4 

56.  0 

3* 

175.0 

135- 

8 

1 

26.0 

40?- 

.  2 

18. 

5 

94.0 

72- 

5 

87.0 

106. 

2 

22.0 

35- 

155.0 

80' 

25.  0 

10 

I 

21.  5 

10 

3 

48.0 

45 

3 

54.0 

42 

1 

1G,  0 

7' 

16 

287.0 

226 

14 

277.0 

211 

4 

81.0 

60 

9 

163.  0 

130- 

802 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


143 


X. — THE  OGEECHEE  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  OGEECHEE  KIVER. 

This  stream,  which  is  the  next  one  south  of  the  Savannah  that  lias  any  water-power  worth  mentioning,  rises 
in  Greene  county,  Georgia,  and  flows  southeast  through  Taliaferro;  then  between  Warren  and  Glascock  on  its  left, 
and  Hancock  and  Washington  on  its  right;  thence  through  Jefferson,  finally  forming  the  boundary-line  between 
Burke,  Screveu,  Effingham,  and  Chatham  on  its  left,  and  Emanuel,  Bulloch,  and  Bryan  on  its  right,  and  emptying  into 
the  Atlantic  about  16  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah.  Its  length  in  a  straight  line  is  about  160  or  170 
miles,  and  it  drains  a  total  area  of  4,720  square  miles.  Of  this  drainage  area,  however,  by  far  the  greater  part  lies 
below  the  fall-line,  and  offers  no  water-power,  except  here  and  there  on  a  sand-hill  stream.  The  river  crosses  the 
fall-line  between  Hancock  and  Glascock  counties,  and  below  that  point  the  general  character  of  the  drainage  basin 
corresponds  so  closely  to  that  of  the  Savannah  below  Augusta,  of  the  Santee,  or  of  the  Pee  Dee  below  Cheraw,  that  it 
need  not  be  described.  Above  the  fall-line  the  river  flows  through  a  rolling  and  hilly  country,  the  bed  being  rock, 
overlaid  between  the  shoals  by  sand,  gravel,  and  clay.  The  bottoms  are  said  to  be  narrow.  The  elevation  of  the 
stream  at  the  crossing  of  the  Macon  and  Augusta  railroad,  at  Mayfield,  about  8  miles  above  the  fall-line,  is  270  feet, 
so  that  the  fall  from  that  point  to  the  mouth  will  average  about  1.6  feet  per  mile.  The  fall  below  the  fall-line  will 
probably  not  average  1  foot  per  mile,  and  the  stream  could  probably  be  made  navigable  for  some  distance.  It  is 
said  that  boats  used  to  ascend  the  river  as  far  as  Georgetown,  4  miles  below  the  fall-line.  At  present  the  stream 
is  navigable  for  a  distance  of  25  miles  from  its  mouth  for  boats  drawing  16  feet,  and  for  a  distance  of  35  miles  from 
its  mouth  for  boats  drawing  5  feet.  The  average  annual  rainfall  on  the  drainage-basin  above  the  fall-line  is  49 
or  50  inches,  of  which  11  fall  in  spring,  14  in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  14  in  winter. 

The  first  power  on  the  stream  is  at  the  fall-line,  known  as  the  Shoals  of  Ogeechee.  They  are  situated  8£  miles 
from  Mayfield,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  point,  and  are  above  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Ogeechee.  The  power  is 
*  utilized  by  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  with  a  wooden-frame  dam  about  225  feet  long  and  8  or  9  feet  high,  backing  the 
water  1£  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  150  feet.  The  race  is  300  feet  long,  the  fall  utilized  18  feet,  and  the  power 
perhaps  30  to  40  horse-power,  which  can  only  be  obtained  ten  months  of  the  year  on  account  of  leakage.  The 
shoal  is  of  solid  rock,  and  the  total  available  fall  is  21  or  22  feet  at  low  water.  The  drainage  area  above  the  shoal 
being  about  290  square  miles,  I  have  estimated  the  power  as  follows: 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minim  am  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet, 

Cubic  feet. 

1  foot  fall 

18  feet 'fall. 

21  feet  fall. 

i  25 

2.8 

50 

59 

{ 

35 

4.0 

72 

84 

^  290 

21 

1      •  250 

28.4 

511 

596 



I  40 

4.5 

81 

94 

Four  miles  above  is  D.  A.  Jewell's  cotton  factory,  4£  miles  from  Mayfield.  The  dam  is  a  wooden-frame  dam. 
composed  of  triangular  frames  set  up  and  down  the  stream,  tied  together  and  planked  over  on  the  sloping 
up-stream  side,  and  is  280  feet  long  and  15  feet  high,  50  feet  at  one  end  being  of  stone.  It  backs  the  water  a  mile, 
with  an  average  width  of  150  feet,  and  the  fall  at  the  factory,  which  has  no  head-race  of  any  length,  is  16  feet. 
The  power  utilized  is  150  horse-power,  which  can  only  be  obtained  eight  months  of  the  year,  the  average  during 
the  remaining  four  months  being  two-thirds  or  three-fourths,  and  the  water  gets  so  low  at  times  that  the  wheels  are 
stopped.  During  the  low  season,  steam-power  is  put  on  to  the  extent  of  125  horse-power.  The  mill  is  run  about 
12  hours  in  summer  out  of  the  24,  and  there  is  no  waste  at  night;  and,  in  fact,  the  pond  does  not  fill  up  in  one 
night.  I  have  estimated  the  power  at  this  place  as  follows : 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

area.  . 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

n 

Sq.  miles.  \  Feet. 

Oubicfeet. 

1  25 
1  189 
I  30 

1  footfall. 
1.9 
2.8 
21.5 
3.4 

16  feet  fall. 

30 
45 

1  j 

\         215  [  16 

340 
54 

1 

The  stream  is  said  to  be  very  variable  in  its  flow,  and  to  get  very  low  in  summer.  Its  absolute  minimum  is 
probably  below  that  given  above.  Mr.  Jewell  states  that  he  stopped  eight  days  once,  and  during  that  entire  time 
his  pond  only  rose  a  few  inches.  According  to  the  above  estimate,  during  nine  months  of  an  ordinary  year  about 
180  horse-power  gross  would  be  obtained,  or  about  130  horse-power  net,  which  is  perhaps  a  little  too  high. 

803 


14-4 


W  ATE  R  -  PO  WE R  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Above  the  factory  are  several  small  grist-  and  saw-mills,  most  of  which  have  to  stop  in  summer.  There  are  no 
Bites  not  used. 

The  tributaries  of  the  stream  are  of  no  consequence.  On  Little  Ogeechee  there  are  two  sites,  both  used  at  one 
time,  but  now  abandoned.    The  stream  is  small,  draining  only  55  square  miles. 

Table  of  power  utilized  on  the  Ogeechee  river. 


Name  of  stream. 


Ogeechee  river 

Bo   

Do  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  - 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do   

Do  

Do  

Do........ 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  to  what. 


Atlantic  . . 

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do   

Ogeechee. 

....do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...  do  

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  


State. 


County. 


Georgia  j  Warren  

 do  I  Hancock  

 do   | . ..  do  

 do  ,  Warren  

 do   Taliaferro  . . . 

 do  :  Liberty  

— do   do   

—  do  j  Bulloch  

 do  i  do  

 do   Screven  

 do  I  do  

 do   Burke  

 do   Jefferson  . .  - 

. . .  do  i  Washington 

. .  .do  i  Glascock  

 do   do  

 do   Hancock  

 do   Warren  


Kind  of  mill. 


Flour  and  grist  . 

. .  do  

Woolen  

Cotton  factory.. 
Flour  and  grist . 

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw   

Flour  and  grist . 

Saw   

Flour  and  grist . 

.  ...do  

...do   

. .  do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist 
...do   


Fall  used. 

Horse-power 
used,  net. 

Feet. 

2 

20 

30 

2 

13 

40 

1 

8 

1 

16 

150 

1 

22 

15 

1 

9 

20 

2 

27 

5 

36 

20 

2 

17.5 

24 

1 

in 

8 

1 

10 

12 

9 

75+ 

117 

9 

82 

189 

1 

21 

33 

4 

60 

54 

2 

23 

27 

2 

42 

30 

1 

9 

12 

XL—THE  ALTAMAHA  RIVER  AND  TRIBUTARIES. 


THE  ALTAMAHA  RIVER. 

This  river,  with  all  its  tributaries,  lies  entirely  within  the  state  of  Georgia,  and  is  the  most  southerly  stream 
flowing  into  the  Atlantic  whose  water-power  is  worthy  of  special  mention.  It.  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the 
Oconee  and  the  Ocmulgee  rivers,  on  the  line  between  Montgomery  and  Appling  counties,  whence  it  pursues  a  south- 
easterly course,  forming  the  boundary-line  between  Tattnall,  Liberty,  and  Mcintosh  counties  on  its  left,  and  Appling, 
Wayne,  and  Glynn  on  its  right,  emptying  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  through  Altamaha  sound,  just  below  the  town  of 
Darien.  Its  length  is  about  75  miles  in  a  straight  line  and  155  by  the  river,  and  its  total  drainage  area  comprises 
about  14,400  square  miles,  of  which  the  Ocmulgee  drains  6,000,  the  Oconee  5,400,  and  the  Altamaha  proper  3,000. 
Its  principal  tributary  is  the  Great  Ohoopee,  from  the  north,  draining  about  1,400  square  miles.  The  Altamaha  is 
navigable  for  its  entire  length  for  boats  drawing  5  feet  of  water,  its  fall  being  very  slight.  There  are  no  important 
towns  on  the  river.  The  mean  rise  and  fall  of  the  tides  in  Altamaha  sound  is  7  feet,  and  the  tidal  wave  is  felt  for 
30  miles  or  so  above  Darien. 

The  Oconee  and  the  Ocmulgee  rivers  will  be  fully  considered  below.  As  regards  the  Altamaha,  its  drainage 
area  lying  entirely  below  the  fall-line,  it  offers  no  power  whatever,  and  the  power  on  its  tributaries  is  not  worth 
mentioning.  Some  of  them  are  sand-hill  streams,  but  none  offer  large  powers.  Near  the  coast,  and  along  the  rivers, 
are  extensive  cypress  swamps,  and  further  inland  there  are  large  pine  forests.  Timber,  turpentine,  rice,  cotton, 
fruits,  and  vegetables  are  the  principal  productions.  The  stream  resembles  the  lower  Savannah,  the  Santee,  or 
the  lower  Pee  Dee. 

THE  OCONEE  RIVER. 

1  pass  to  the  consideration  of  the  Oconee  and  the  Ocmulgee  rivers,  the  only  ones  regarding  whose  water-power 
anything  is  to  be  said.  The  Oconee  has  its  headwaters  in  Hall  county,  but  the  stream  proper  is  formed  by  the 
union  of  its  two  forks,  the  North  and  the  Middle,  which  unite  just  below  the  town  of  Athens,  on  the  line  between 
Clarke  and  Oconee  counties,  whence  the  stream  pursues  a  course  a  little  east  of  south  for  a  distance  of  about  140 
or  150  miles  in  a  straight  line,  draining  a  total  area  of  5,400  square  miles.  It  forms  the  boundary-line  between 
Clarke,  Oglethorpe,  Greene,  and  Hancock  counties  on  its  left,  and  Oconee,  Morgan,  and  Putnam  comities  on  its 
right,  flows  through  Baldwin,  and  between  Wilkinson  on  its  right  and  Washington  and  Johnson  on  its  left,  and 
finally  through  Laurens  and  Montgomery,  to  join  the  Ocmulgee.  The  only  town  of  importance  on  the  stream  is 
M  illedgeville,  near  which  place  it  crosses  the  fall-line.  The  drainage  area  above  this  point  being  about  2,973  square 
miles,  it  will  be  seen  that  nearly  half  of  the  total  area  drained  by  the  river  offers  no  water-power  of  importance. 
804 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


145 


There  is  a  navigable  depth  of  5  feet  up  to  the  Central  railroad  bridge,  135  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream. 
In  White's  Statistics  of  Georgia  it  is  stated  that  a  boat  GO  feet  long  once  ascended  to  Barnett's  shoals,  8  miles 
below  Athens,  but  that  no  produce  had  ever  been  carried  above  Milledgeville.  An  examination  of  the  river  up  to 
that  town  was  made  in  1874  under  the  direction  of  General  Gillmore,  whose  report  may  be  found  in  the  Annual 
Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1875,  Appendix  U,  and  in  which  improvements  by  the  general  government  wore 
not  recommended,  as  almost  all  the  transport  on  the  river  is  that  of  timber. 

The  accompanying  map  will  show  the  form  and  dimensions  of  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Oconee,  and  of  its 
principal  tributaries.  The  rainfall  on  the  basin  above  the  fall-line  averages  about  48  or  49  inches— 12  in  spring,  13 
in  summer,  10  in  autumn,  and  14  in  winter.  The  table  on  page  147  gives  more  detailed  information  on  this  subject. 
Some  idea  of  the  declivity  of  the  stream  may  be  obtained  from  the  following  table : 

Table  of  declivity  of  the  Oconee  river. 


Place. 

Distance  from  1 

Elevation  above 

Distance  be- 

Fall between 

Fall  between 

mouth. 

tide, 

tween  points. . 

points. 

points. 

Miles. 

Feet. 

Miles. 

Feet. 

Feet  per  mile. 

—155 

0 

\  -   -   -  290 

-    -    -    -  201 

135+ 

201 

\  ■  '  •   -  60 

....  20 

-    -    -    -  0.33 

195  ± 

221  ± 

j  -    -    -  60± 

.    -    -   -  87 

-   ---  1.45 

Crossing  of  Georgia  railroad  ( Augusta  to  A  tlanta)t  

255  ± 

308 

|  -    -    -  40± 

...   -  269 

Crossing  of  Nortb-Eastern  railroad  (2  miles  north  of  Athens,  north  fork  of  Oconee)  J . . 

295  ± 

577 

|  -   -   -  45 

-    -   -    -  628 

-    -    -    -  14. 00 

Second  crossing  North-Eastern  railroad,  2  miles  south  of  LulaJ  

340 

1,  205 

*  For  this  elevation,  and  others  on  the  same  road,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  William  Rogers  general  superintendent. 
1  For  these  elevations  I  have  to  thank  Major  Wilkins,  Engineer  of  the  road. 

J  These  figures  were  furnished  by  Captain  J.  C  Turner,  chief  engineer  of  the  road,  at  the  request  of  the  general  superintendent,  Mr.  Lyman  Wells. 


The  declivities  given  in  the  preceding  table  are  of  very  small  value  because  of  the  inaccuracy  in  the  distances, 
which  could  only  be  roughly  estimated. 

No  gaugings  of  the  Oconee  are  on  record.  The  flow  is  said  to  be  quite  variable,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  doubt 
that  it  fluctuates  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  the  case  of  some  streams  which  have  been  discussed  on  account  of 
the  smaller  rainfall  in  the  warm  season.  The  freshets  are  violent  and  very  sudden.  The  sources  of  the  river 
being  east  of  the  mountains,  and  the  soil  clay  or  loam,  the  water  is  shed  quite  rapidly,  and  rises  sometimes  8  or 
10  feet  in  a  few  hours,  overflowing  its  banks  in  many  places,  and  flooding  large  areas  of  bottom-land.  The  map 
will  show  how  accessible  the  river  is  in  its  various  parts. 

A  detailed  description  of  the  water  powers  of  the  stream  will  now  be  given. 

Below  Milledgeville  the  stream  is  very  tortuous,  distances  by  river  being  usually  reckoned  at  three  times  those 
by  land.  The  bed  is  generally  of  sand,  the  banks  of  clay,  and  the  principal  obstructions  to  navigation  are  snags  and 
fallen  trees.  Near  Milledgeville  occurs  the  first  fall,  there  being  a  series  of  shoals  there  extendiug  over  a  distance 
of  5  or  6  miles,  where  the  stream  crosses  the  fall-Hue.  A  survey  of  these  shoals  was  made  several  years  ago  by  Colonel 
B.  W.  Frobell,  of  Atlanta,  who  found  the  fall  between  the- mouth  of  Fishing  creek,  which  empties  into  the  river  from 
the  right  just  at  Milledgeville,  and  the  head  of  a  shoal  known  as  Carter's,  to  be  34.2  feet.  The  development 
of  this  power  by  leadimg  a  canal  from  the  head  of  Carter's  shoals  down  to  the  city,  rendering  available  a  fall  of 
between  30  and  40  feet,  has  been  often  proposed,  but  nothing  has  yet  been  done  toward  carrying  out  this  scheme. 
At  present  Carter's  shoal  is  used  for  a  cotton-gin,  and  formerly  there  used  to  be  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  there ;  and  just 
opposite  Milledgeville  there  is  a  grist-mill  with  a  wooden  wing-dam  extending  across  to-an  island,  and  using  a  fall 
of  5  feet.  The  topography  of  the  country  between  Carter's  shoal  and  the  city  is  said  to  be  such  that  a  canal  would 
be  practicable,  although  there  are  bluffs  in  places.    I  have  estimated  the  flow  and  power  as  follows : 


Table  of  floic  and  power  at  Milledgeville. 


State  of  flow  (aee  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

>  2,973 

Feet. 

34 

7* 

Cubicfeet. 
/  500 
650 
]     2, 600 
I  740 

1  foot  fall. 
56.8 
73.8 
295.5 
84.1 

:ii  feet  fall. 

1,930 
2,  500 
10,  000 
?,  860 

Passing  over  one  shoal,  where  there  is  said  to  be  a  fall  of  3  or  4  feet,  the  next  power  is  at  Fraley's  mill,  7  miles 
above  Milledgeville,  where  there  is  an  abrupt  fall  of  5  feet  in  200,  and  about  8  feet  in  one-fourth  of  a  mile,  known 

805 


146 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


as  Cedar  shoal.  A  fall  of  5  feet  is  used  by  a  mill  on  the  left  bank,  with  a  wing-dam,  mostly  of  rough  rock,  extending 
about  one-third  across  the  stream.  The  available  fall  is  probably  6  or  8  feet.  The  mill  is  stopped  often  on  account 
of  high  water. 

At  Satchel's  shoal,  15  miles  above  Milledgeville,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Little  river,  which  enters  from  the 
west,  there  was  formerly  a  grist-mill,  not  now  in  operation,  but  the  fall  is  said  to  be  only  4  or  5  feet.  The  river  is 
narrow,  with  bluffs  on  each  side,  and  the  dam  extends  entirely  across. 

Graybill's  old  mill,  not  in  use  now,  is  said  to  have  a  fall  of  4  or  5  feet. 

Lawrence's  grist-mill  has  a  dam  across  to  an  island  and  no  race.  The  dam  is  said  to  be  G  feet  high,  and  the  fall 
used  6  or  7  feet. 

Riley's  shoal  is  said  to  have  a  fall  of  7  or  8  feet,  but  it  is  not  improved. 

One  mile  above  is  the  site  of  the  old  Long  shoal  factory,  or  the  mill  of  the  Atwood  Manufacturing  Company, 
situated  some  20  or  22  miles  from  Eatonton,  which  is  the  nearest  railroad  point.  The  fall  is  about  12  feet  in  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile,  as  ascertained  with  a  pocket-level,  but  it  could  probably  be  increased  by  a  dam  to  15  or  20  feet,  as 
the  banks  are  said  to  be  quite  steep  for  2  miles  above.  The  banks  at  the  shoal  are  favorable  for  building.  The  old 
factory  was  located  on  the  left  bank,  with  a  wing-dam  extending  for  500  yards  or  so  up  the  river,  the  fall  used 
being  about  8  feet.  This  factory  has  not  been  used  since  the  war,  and  at  present  the  only  power  used  is  for  a  grist- 
mill on  the  right  bank,  with  a  dam  only  50  feet  long  and  7  or  8  feet  high,  across  to  an  island  not  subject  to  overflow, 
at  the  head  of  which  is  a  little  wing-dam  to  turn  the  water  between  the  island  and  the  shore.  The  location  is  safe 
on  either  side  of  the  river,  and  considerable  power  could,  no  doubt,  be  developed  at  this  place.  The  following  table 
gives  my  estimate : 

Table  of  flow  and  poicer  at  Long  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


Minimum  

•Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years . . 


Sq.  miles. 


2, 122 


Feet. 


12  ^ 


Cubic  feet, 
f  360 
460 
1,860 

DJ0 


Ifootfall.    3i  feet  fall. 


40.9 

52.2 
211.3 
60.0 


490 
625 
2,535 
720 


Reid's  mill-site,  6  or  7  miles  above  this  shoal,  is  not  now  in  use,  the  dam  having  been  washed  out  fifteen  or 
twenty  years  ago,  and  there  being  nothing  there  now.  The  dam  extended  entirely  across,  aud  a  fall  of  6  feet  was 
used,  but  there  was  often  difficulty  with  high  water. 

Passing  a  shoal  where  there  is  only  a  small  fall,  said  to  be  2  feet  or  so,  capable  of  being  increased  to  5  feet,  the 
next  power  is  at  Park's  old  mill,  now  used  as  a  grist-mill,  with  four  pair  of  stones,  and  a  fall  of  8  feet.  The  dam  is  of 
wood  and  stone,  350  feet  by  8,  ponding  the  water  for  2  or  3  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  300  feet,  but  without 
throwing  the  river  out  of  its  banks.  The  mill  is  troubled  occasionally  in  times  of  high  water,  but  there  is  never 
trouble  from  lack  of  water.    It  is  2  miles  below  the  crossing  of  the  Georgia  railroad. 

Just  above  the  railroad  the  Oconee  receives  a  large  tributary,  the  Appalachee,  from  the  west.  Three  miles 
above,  at  Willis'  ferry,  there  is  said  to  be  a  small  shoal,  but  of  no  consequence,  the  next  power  worth  mentioning 
being  Scull  shoal,  14  miles  northwest  of  Greensborough,  8  miles  from  Maxey's,  the  nearest  railroad  point  (on  the 
Athens  branch  of  the  Georgia  railroad),  12  miles  from  Madison,  and  about  15  miles  above  the  railroad  bridge.  It 
is  used  by  the  cotton  factory  and  grist-mill  of  the  Powell  Manufacturing  Company.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone, 
300  feet  long  and  10  feet  high,  and  was  built  about  the  year  1860,  having  never  been  carried  away.  It  ponds  the 
water  for  about  2  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  200  feet.  From  it  a  race  300  or  400  feet  long  leads  to  the  factory, 
where  the  fall  is  10  feet.  The  mill  runs  3,200  spindles,  and  is  never  troubled  with  scarcity  of  water  :  but  it  is  obliged 
to  stop  entirely  during  one  or  two  months  on  account  of  backwater.    No  steam-power  is  used. 

The  next  shoal,  and  the  last  of  importance  on  this  stream,  is  Barnett's  or  Veal's,  8  miles  below  Athens,  and  the 
finest  shoal  on  the  river.  It  is  popularly  supposed  that  the  fall  amounts  to  60  feet  within  a  distance  of  three-fourths 
of  a  mile.  I  visited  the  place,  and,  although  unable  to  make  any  accurate  observations,  some  rough  measurements 
with  a  pocket-level  rather  inclined  me  to  believe  that  this  figure  is  too  high,  and  that  45  or  50  feet  would  be  nearer 
the  truth.  Not  all  of  this  fall,  however,  is  easily  available,  on  account  of  the  character  of  the  banks,  which  are 
steep  on  both  sides  on  the  lower  half  of  the  shoal.  At  the  head  a  fall  of  25  feet  could  be  easily  rendered  available, 
with  room  for  buildings  on  the  left  bank.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock,  and  at  the  head  a  natural  dam  extends 
entirely  across,  diagonally  down  stream  from  the  left  bank  to  the  right,  and,  therefore,  not  just  favorable  for  turning 
the  water  to  the  left  bank.  Over  this  ledge  occurs  the  most  rapid  fall,  amounting  to  25  feet  in  about  300  yards. 
The  rest  of  the  fall  would  be  very  difficult  to  utilize  fully  by  caualing,  though  it  probably  could  in  some  way  be 
developed  if  necessary.  The  river  is  about  180  feet  wide  above  the  shoal,  and  very  deep,  and  the  banks  are  low 
and  sandy.    In  a  heavy  freshet  the  river  rises  here  6  or  7  feet,  while  three-fourths  of  a  mile  above  it  rises  17  feet, 

and  on  the  shoal  itself  scarcelv  ever  over  3  or  4  feet.    This  shoal  is  at  present  unutilized,  although  it  has  been 

806 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


147 


proposed  to  establish  a  cotton  factory  there.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  sites  in  this  part  of  the  state.  Fine  building- 
stone  is  found  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  the  climate  is  healthy,  and  it  is  said  that  a  branch  road  could,  without 
much  difficulty,  be  run  from  the  Georgia  railroad.    The  following  table  will  give  an  idea  of  the  available  power : 

Table  of  flow  and  power  at  BarnetVs  shoals. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  ... 
Maximum,  with  storage . 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Drainage 
area. 

Fall.  * 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Sg.  miles. 
I 

I  860 

Cubicfeet. 
r  137 
180 
j  900 
I  206 

1  foot  fall. 
15.  6 
20.5 
102.  3 
23.4 

25  feet  fall. 
390 
510 
2,560 
585 

\5feetfall. 

700 
920 
4,  COO 
1,050 

*  Twenty-five  feet,  easily  available  ;  total.  45  feet  or  more. 

From  what  has  been  said,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Oconee  does  not  offer  a  remarkable  amount  of  power,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  that  it  has  few  powers  of  much  importance,  and  none  to  compare  with  the  great  powers  on  the 
Catawba,  Broad,  and  Yadkin  rivers.  The  following  table  gives  a  summary  of  power,  in  which  it  has  not  been 
thought  desirable,  on  account  of  uncertainty  of  the  data,  and  the  fact  that  the  estimate  is  of  no  practical  jalue,  to 
insert  estimates  of  the  total  theoretical  power. 

It  may  be  mentioned  that  in  January,  1827,  the  Oconee  was  frozen  over  near  Milledgeville,  and  the  Savannah 
at  Augusta — a  circumstance  never  before  known.  In  February,  1835,  the  thermometer  fell  to  3°  below  zero  in 
Eatonton,  and  to  8°  below  zero  in  Milledgeville.* 

Summary  of  power  on  the  Oconee  river. 


Place 


Milledgeville  

Shoal  

Fraley's  mill  

Satcher's  shoal. .. 
Gray  bill's  mill. . 
Lawrence's  mill 

Riley's  shoal  

Long  shoal  

Hill's  shoal  

Reid's  shoal  

Park's  mill  

Scull  shoal  

Barnett's  shoal .. 


!  he 

1 

i  as 

g  H 


.2 
P 


Sq.  ms. 
2,  950 


2.  900  ± 


2, 122 


1,635 
1,  000 
860 


Rainfall. 


In.  In. 

13  9 

13 ;  9 

13  j  9 

13  9 

13  j  9 

13  9 

13  9 

13  9 

13  9 

13  j  9 
14 
15 
15 


In. 
48 
48 
48 
48 
48 
48 
I  48 
;  48 
48 

I  48 
49 

53 

53 


Fall. 


Feet. 
34.0 
4.0 
8.0 
5.0 
4.0 
6.0 
7-8  (?) 

12+ 
Small 
6.0 
8.0 
10.0 
45± 


a 


5-6  miles . 


1,200  feet 


1,  300  feet 


J  mile . 


Horse-power  available,  gross.* 


a  g 

5  a 

a  % 


MS 


1,  930  j    2,  500  !  10,  000  :  2, 


450 


490 


580  i  2,320 


660 


625      2, 535 


720 


240 
180 
700 


310 
240 
920 


1,400  ;  350 
1,140  j  275 
4,  600  |    1,  050 


Utilized. 


<50 

0 

<50 

0 
0 


0 

<50 
0 
0 
50 

80  d 

0 


Feet. 
6.0 
0.0 
5.0 
0.0 
0.  0 

6-7 
0.  0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
8.0 
10.0 
0.0 


°3 


<4 

0 

<17 

0 
0 


0 

<15 

0 

0 
30  ± 
60  ± 

0 


Remarks. 


Mill  at  dam. 
Dam  10  feet 


LITTLE  RIVER. 


0.75 

690 

2.  00 

675  ± 

Humber's  mill  

3.00 

600  ± 

15. 00 

250 

10 

12 

9 

13 

44 

Small 

10 

12 

9 

13 

44 

Small 

10 

12 

9 

13 

44 

9.0 

10 

12 

9 

13 

44 

6-8 

10. 

12 

9 

13 

44 

13.5 

10 

12 

9 

13 

44 

8.0 

10 

12 

9 

13 

44 

18.0 

600  feet. 


0 
0 
25 


25 
25 
0 


0.0 
0.0 
9.0 
6-8.0 
13.5 
8.0 
0.0 


'See  pages  18  to  21. 


TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  OCONEE  RIVER. 


Below  Milledgeville  the  tributaries  are  not  of  very  much  importance,  except  a  few  which  may  be  classed  as  sand- 
hill streams,  but  regarding  which  I  could  obtain  no  information,  as  none  of  them  are  utilized  to  any  great 
extent.    Power  could  no  doubt  be  developed  on  many  of  them,  and  perhaps  large  powers  on  some  of  them,  but  no 


Sherwood  :  Gazetteer  of  Georgia,  I860. 


807 


148 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


special  kites  could  be  specified.  Of  these  tributaries  Palmetto  creek  drains  375  square  miles,  Big  Sandy  creek 
284,  Commissioner's  creek  196,  and  Buffalo  creek  286.  In  the  table  of  utilized  power  will  be  found  a  statement  of 
the  power  used  en  these  tributaries. 

The  first  tributary  worthy  of  special  mention  is  Little  river,  which  rises  in  Walton  and  Newton  counties,  flows 
southeast  through  Morgan  and  Putnam  counties,  passing  within  3  miles  of  the  town  of  Eatonton,  and  joining  the 
Oconee  between  Putnam  and  Baldwin,  about  8  or  10  miles  above  Milledgeville,  and  above  Fraley's  mill.  Its  length 
in  a  straight  line  is  about  40  or  45  miles,  but  60  or  more  by  the  course  of  the  stream,  and  its  drainage  area  is  about 
690  square  miles.  It  has  two  tributaries  worth  naming,  viz,  Cedar  and  Murder  creeks,  both  entering  from  the  west. 
The  stream  is  said  to  be  "  remarkable  for  its  rapid  current",*  and  it  offers  a  number  of  good  sites  for  small  powers. 
Proceeding  up  the  river,  the  first  shoal  met  with  is  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  mouth,  known  as  Gage's 
shoal,  not  improved,  and  with  an  unknown  fall.  A  mile  and  a  quarter  further  up  is  Moultrie's  shoal,  also  unimproved. 
Both  of  these  shoals  are  subject  to  backwater  from  the  Oconee  river,  and  their  falls  are  stated  to  be  small.  They 
are  probably  not  of  much  value  for  manufacturing.  The  next  power  is  at  Humber's  mill,  3  miles  from  the  mouth, 
with  no  important  tributaries  below  it.  The  dam  is  of  wood,  130  feet  long  and  9  feet  iigh,  and  the  fall  used  is  9 
feet,  with  28  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  all  the  time.  The  fall  could  be  increased  to  11  feet,  and  the 
available  power  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years  with  this  fall  would  probably  be  at  least  100  horse  power.  I 
would,  by  analogy,  estimate  it  at  a  considerably  larger  figure,  but  as  Colonel  Humber,  who  is  well  acquainted  with 
the  stream,  writes  that  60  horse-power  would  be  available  with  a  fall  of  11  feet,  it  must  be  that  for  some  reason 
the  flow  of  the  stream  is  quite  variable  indeed,  or  else  that  the  drainage  area  is  much  smaller  than  I  measured  it 
from  the  map.  For  this  reason  I  do  not  venture  to  give  estimates  for  the  stream.  The  rainfall  on  the  drainage- 
basin  is,  it  is  true,  considerably  smaller  than  on  most  streams  thus  far  considered,  being  only  about  44  inches, 
distributed  unfavorably,  too,  for  rendering  the  flow  uniform,  viz  :  spring,  10;  summer,  12;  autumn,  9;  winter,  13 
to  14;  hence,  without  further  data,  I  would  have  assumed  the  flow  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years  at  about  0.18 
cubic  feet  per  second  per  square  mile,  or  108  cubic  feet  per  second  for  600  square  miles,  which  would  give  a  power 
of  12.3  horse-power  per  foot  fall. 

The  next  power  above  Humber's  is  at  Pierson's  mill,  but  the  fall  is  only  6  or  8  feet,  with  a  dam  of  the  same 
height.  Then  follows  a  second  mill,  with  a  fall  of  13J  feet  and  25  horse-power  utilized,  and  then  a  shoal,  part  of 
which  was  at  one  time  used  by  the  old  Eatonton  factory.  This  shoal,  which  is  the  first  of  importance  on  the  river,  is 
3  miles  from  Eatonton,  and  about  15  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream.  The  fall  is  about  25  feet  in  a  distance  of 
about  300  yards,  over  a  bed  of  solid  rock,  with  banks  not  subject  to  overflow,  and  offering  good  facilities  for  the 
construction  of  canals  and  buildings.  At  the  lower  end  of  this  shoal  there  is  a  grist-mill,  using  a  fall  of  8  feet,  with  a 
wooden  dam  200  feet  long  and  4  feet  high,  backing  the  water  about  100  yards.  This  mill  has  four  pair  of  stones,  but 
two  of  them  cannot  be  run  in  summer ;  the  dam,  however,  is  leaky,  and  the  wheel  very  poor.  At  the  head  of  the  pond, 
on  the  right  bank,  the  old  factory  was  located,  using  a  fall  of  15  or  18  feet,  with  a  race  about  200  yards  long,  and  a 
dam  not  over  4  or  5  feet  in  height  at  the  head  of  the  shoal.  From  measurements  with  a  pocket-level,  I  think  that  18 
feet  could  easily  be  utilized.  The  bed  of  the  stream  at  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  exceedingly  favorable  for  the 
construction  of  a  dam,  but  a  high  one  could  probably  not  be  built  without  overflowing  considerable  good  land. 
The  factory  was  burned  in  1864,  since  which  time  the  power  has  not  been  utilized.  The  drainage  area  above  is 
about  250  square  miles,  and  I  should  think  that  a  power  of  at  least  75  horse-power  could  be  utilized  with  18  feet 
fall  in  the  low  season  of  ordinary  years ;  but,  as  before  mentioned,  there  may  be  circumstances  rendering  the  flow 
of  this  stream  very  variable. 

Above  this  site  there  are  a  few  grist-mills  on  the  stream  which  it  is  not  necessary  to  specify.  On  some  of  the 
tributaries  to  the  stream  there  are  also  mills,  and  on  Murder  creek,  about  3  miles  from  its  mouth,  it  is  said  that  a 
fall  of  18  feet  could  be  utilized  with  a  dam  6  feet  high  and  a  race  200  yards  long. 

The  next  tributary  worth  naming  is  the  Appalachee  river,  which  has  its  sources  in  Gwinnett  county,  whence  it 
flows  southeast,  and  joins  the  Oconee  just  above  the  railroad  bridge.  Its  length  in  a  straight  line  is  about  54 
miles ;  by  the  river,  80  miles  or  over.  It  drains  an  area  of  about  506  square  miles,  receiving  as  its  principal  tributary 
Hardlabor  creek,  from  the  west,  which  drains  about  173  square  miles.  Data  regarding  its  flow  or  fall  could  not  be 
obtained.  The  rainfall  on  the  basin  is  about  47  inches — 11  in  spring,  13  in  summer,  9  in  autumn,  and  14  in  winter. 
The  stream  is  quite  inaccessible,  as  the  map  will  show.  The  following  are  the  powers  in  their  order  as  the  river  is 
ascended : 

About  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  railroad  there  is  said  to  be  a  small  shoal,  not  used,  and  probably  of  no  value. 
Four  miles  further  up  is  Reid's  mill,  not  now  used,  the  available  fall  being  stated  at  7  or  8  feet,  and  perhaps  more. 
The  mill  was  burned  during  the  war,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  dam,  which  was  of  rock,  and  4  or  5  feet  high,  is 
still  there,  though  out  of  repair.  This  site  is  4  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Hardlabor  creek,  and  2  miles  from 
Buckhead,  the  nearest  railroad  depot.  It  is  owned  by  Mr.  W.  H.  McWhorter.  Estimates  of  the  flow  are  liable  to 
considerable  uncertainty,  as  remarked  in  the  case  of  Little  river,  but  I  would  estimate  the  flow  and  power  at  this 
place  as  in  the  table  on  page  149. 


808 


*  White  :  Statistics  of  Georgia,  1849. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Flow  and  power  at  Heidi  s  mill,  Appalachee  river. 


149 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  

Maximum,  with  storage  .'  I 

Low  season,  dry  years  


Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  avail- 
able, gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Oubicfeet. 

1  foot  fall. 

8  feet  fall. 

(•  60 

6.8 

55 

|  500 

I  66 

7.5 

60 

8 

|  525 

60.0 

480 

I  T6 

8.6 

70 

Ten  miles  up  the  river,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Hardlabor  creek,  is  Furiow's  grist-mill,  where  a  fall  of  8  feet 
and  30  horse-power  are  used.  The  dam  is  of  wood,  300  feet  long,  5  feet  high,  and  backs  the  water  300  yards.  The 
head-race  is  150  feet  long.  The  drainage  area  above  is  about  310  square  miles,  and  I  would  therefore  estimate  the 
power  as  follows : 

Flow  and  power  at  Furlovfs  mill  and  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall.* 

Flow  per 
second 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Remarks. 

Sq.  miles. 
J  310 

Cubicfeet. 

f  ^ 
41 

]  325 
1  47 

1  footfall. 
4.2 
4.7 
37.0 
5.4 

8  feet  fall. 
34 
38 
296 
43 

ISfeetfall. 
76 
85 
666 
97 

Fall  of  shoal  from  in- 
>    formation  from  Mr. 
Fnrlow. 

Minimum  low  season  

*  Eight  feet  at  mill ;  18  feet  at  shoal  Above  mill. 


The  shoal  referred  to  in  the  above  table  is  one-quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  mill,  and  is  a  better  site  than  the 
one  where  the  mill  is  located.  The  fall  is  said  to  be  about  14  feet  in  250  yards,  and  a  dam  4  feet  high  could 
probably  be  built,  giving  a  total  available  fall  of  18  feet.  The  bed  is  rock,  and  the  banks  steep  and  rocky  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  shoal.  It  is  to  be  remarked  that  the  Appalachee  exhibits  the  same  phenomenon — of  filling  up 
with  sand^-that  has  already  been  referred  to  at  length  in  the  case  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Broad  river  in  South 
Carolina.  At  Furlow's  mill  the  fall  was  formerly  12  feet,  but  is  now  reduced  to  8.  The  shoal  just  referred  to  has 
never  been  used.    It  is  owned  by  C.  M.  Furlow,  of  Madison. 

The  next  power  is  5  or  6  miles  above,  at  Price's  mill,  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  using  a  fall  of  16  feet  and  25  horse- 
power, the  dam  being  4£  feet  high,  and  the  race  225  feet  long.  The  owner  states  that  by  carrying  the  race  100  feet 
farther  down  the  stream  a  fall  of  20  feet  would  be  obtained,  and  by  going  farther  still  even  more  could  be  used,  the 
shoal  being  half  a  mile  long.  This  shoal  is,  no  doubt,  a  fine  one,  and  in  the  table  below  I  have  estimated  the  power 
as  nearly  as  possible : 

Table  of  power  at  Price's  mill. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 
l  300+ 

Feet. 
16 

Oubicfeet. 
,  36 
40 

\  3ffi 
I  46 

1  foot  fall. 
4.1 
4.5 
36.0 
5.2 

16  feet  fall. 
65 
72 

575 
83 

The  next  power  is  4  miles  above  Price's,  at  High  shoals,  situated  14  miles  from  Athens  and  16  from  Madison. 
The  stream  is  said  to  fall  about  55  feet  in  300  or  400  yards,  but  the  principal  part  of  the  fall  occurs  in  the  lower 
half  of  this  distance.  The  fall  is  utilized  by  the  cotton  factory  of  the  New  High  Shoals  Manufacturing  Company, 
and  by  a  grist-mill  and  a  cotton-gin.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  solid  rock,  the  banks  high  and  difficult  to  canal, 
and  the  width  of  the  stream  200  to  400  feet.  The  cotton-factory  dam  is  located  about  the  middle  of  the  shoal,  and 
is  of  wood,  straight  across  the  stream,  400  feet  long  and  5  or  6  feet  high,  built  in  1873  at  a  cost  of  $500,  and  backing 
the  water  only  one  or  two  hundred  yards.  The  race  is  200  feet  long,  the  fall  20  feet,  and  the  power  100  horse- 
power, which  can  be  secured  during  11£  mouths  as  a  rule,  and  75  horse-power  for  the  remaining  time,  there  being 
no  waste  in  summer  while  running.*  Just  above  the  pond  is  a  fall  of  4  or  5  feet,  used  for  running  a  gin,  while  just 
below  the  factory  is  a  grist-mill  with  no  dam,  a  wooden  flume  about  120  feet  long  and  a  fall  of  20  feet  running  4 
pair  of  stones.    Below  this  mill  there  is  a  fall,  not  used,  of  6  or  8  feet. 

The  drainage  area  above  this  shoal  is  about  300  square  miles.  I  have  based  my  estimates  of  power  for  the 
river  principally  qn  the  above  data  regarding  the  factory  as  furnished  by  Dr.  Powell,  the  president  of  the  company. 
Although  not  of  so  much  interest  here,  I  subjoin  a  table.    Taking  75  horse-power  net  as  the  power,  with  a  fall  of  20 


*  The  power  is  stated  in  the  statistics  of  cotton-mills  at  179  horse-power. 


809 


150 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


feet  during  the  low  season  of  dry  years,  or  assuming  the  efficiency  of  the  motor  to  be  75  per  cent,  and  the  gross 
power  100  horse-power,  the  power  per  foot  fall  is  5  horse-power.    On  this  the  following  estimates  are  based : 


Table  of  power  at  High  shoals. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse  power  available,  gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Cubic  feet. 

1  foot  fall. 

Wfeetfall. 

55feetfaU. 

1 

r  36 

4.1 

80 

225 

S  300 

55  ± 

40 

4.5 

90 

250 

315 

J 

36.0 

720 

1,980 

I  46 

5.2 

100 

228 

Above  this  shoal  comes  a  site  not  utilized,  said  to  have  a  fall  of  15  or  20  feet ;  but  no  information  could  be 
obtained  regarding  it. 

Five  miles  above  High  shoals  is  Snow's  grist-mill,  with  a  fall  of  10  or  12  feet  and  a  dam  of  about  the  same 
height;  and  further  up  the  stream  are  other  small  grist-mills,  but  they  are  not  worthy  of  special  mention. 

The  Appalachee  has  one  tributary  worth  naming,  viz,  Hardlabor  creek,  from  the  west,  which  drains  173  square 
miles.  It  is,  however,  not  a  good  stream  for  water-power,  and  has  only  one  site  worth  mentioning,  about  3  miles 
from  its  mouth,  and  just  above  where  Sandy  creek  joins  it.  This  site  was  formerly  used,  and  the  available  fall  is 
.stated  at  10  feet ;  but  the  power  is  small,  and  the  fall  subject  to  being  diminished  by  backwater  from  the 
Appalachee.  The  stream  is  sluggish  and  without  power  above  this.  Sandy  creek,  a  tributary  of  Hardlabor  creek, 
drains  about  72  square  miles,  and  is  said  to  have  a  shoal  about  2  miles  long,  on  which  there  were  formerly  1  mills, 
but  now  only  1  remains.    This  shoal  is  about  8  miles  from  Madison. 

The  Oconee  river  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  North  and  Middle  forks  a  few  miles  below  the  town  of  Athens. 
It  remains  to  describe  these  two  streams.  The  North  fork  rises  in  Hall  county,  and  flows  through  Jackson  and 
Clarke  counties,  its  length  in  a  straight  line  being  about  43  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  433  square  miles.  It  flows 
directly  by  the  town  of  Athens,  the  most  important  place  in  the  vicinity.  The  table  of  declivity  on  page  145  will  show 
that  the  stream  has  quite  a  rapid  fall.  There  are,  however,  few  mills  on  it,  and  few  sites  were  brought  to  my  notice. 
It  is  probable  that  the  greater  part  of  the  fall  occurs  in  the  upper  parts,  before  the  stream  is  large  enough  to  be  of 
much  value  for  power. 

The  first  shoal  is  sometimes  known  as  Smith's,  and  is  less  than  a  mile  above  the  junction  of  the  two  forks;  but 
according  to  all  accounts  the  fall  is  small  and  the  power  not  valuable. 

The  next  power  is  at  the  factory  of  the  Georgia  Manufacturing  Company,  where  the  fall  is  20  feet  in  a  distance 
of  one  and  a  half  miles  or  thereabout.  The  dam  is  of  wood  and  stone,  but  built  in  a  rather  peculiar  way.  A  stone 
dam  of  triangular  or  trapezoidal  section  is  first  carried  entirely  across  the  stream,  and  on  top  a  wooden  sill  is  laid ; 
while  at  the  bottom  and  on  the  up  stream  side  a  second  sill  (mud-sill)  is  also  laid,  both  extending  from  bank  to 
bank.  On  these  two  sills  the  planking  is  laid,  sloping  thus  upward  and  down  stream  and  projecting  down  stream 
beyond  the  almost  vertical  face  of  the  stone  dam.  This  dam  of  the  Georgia  factory  is  300  feet  long  and  10  feet 
high,  and  was  built  in  1840.  The  foundation  is  solid  rock,  and  the  pond  is  about  a  mile  long  and  150  feet  wide.  A 
race,  600  yards  long,  leads  to  the  factory,  where  the  fall  is  20  feet,  using  150  horse-power,  which  can  be  obtained  at 
all  times,  but  with  no  waste  during  working  hours  in  the  dry  season.  These  data  give  a  net  capacity  of  7£  horse- 
power per  foot,  or,  say,  10  horse-power  gross  per  foot,  during  the  low  season  of  ordinary,  or,  perhaps,  dry  years, 
corresponding  to  0.20  cubic  feet  per  second  per  square  mile  of  drainage  area.  I  have  taken  this  as  referring  to  dry. 
years,  because  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the  flow  of  this  stream  is  more  regular  than  that  of  the  other  tributaries 
of  the  Oconee  thus  far  considered,  since  the  rainfall  is  both  larger  and  more  favorably  distributed,  being  as  follows : 
spring,  15;  summer,  15;  autumn,  10;  winter,  16;  year,  56.  The  following  table,  therefore,  gives  my  estimate  of 
flow  and  power  here : 

Table  of  power  at  Georgia  factory,  on  the  North  Oconee  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 
433 

Feet. 
20 

Cubic  feet. 

f  70 
85 

j  475 
I  100 

1  foot  fall. 
8.0 
9.7 
54.0 
11.4 

20  feet  fafl. 

100 
104 
1,080 
228 

This  factory  is  a  mile  above  the  junction  of  the  two  forks. 

Above  this  power  comes  a  small  shoal,  where  it  is  said  that  a  fall  of  6  feet  could  be  obtained,  known  as  the 
Lumpkin  shoal,  but  it  is  probably  not  of  much  consequence. 
810 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


151 


The  next  important  power  is  tUe  Athens  cotton  factory,  at  Athens,  about  4  or  5  miles  above  the  junction  of  the 
two  forks.  The  dam  is  constructed  like  that  at  the  Georgia  factory,  and  is  300  feet. long  and  10  feet  high.  It  was 
built  in!847,  and  would  perhaps  cost  $5,000.  The  foundation  is  solid  rock.  The  race  is  only  a  few  feet  in  length  and 
the  fall  12  feet,  and  180  horse-power  is  used.  Opposite  the  factory,  on  the  east  bank,  is  a  grist-mill,  with  a 
race  about  330  feet  long  and  a  fall  of  13  feet,  with  60  horse-power.  The  total  power  used  is  therefore  240  horse- 
power; but  this  cannot  be  obtained  all  the  time,  and  the  grist-mill  is  sometimes  stopped  in  dry  weather  to  allow  the 
factory  to  use  all  the  power.    Still,  I  was  informed  that  the  factory  could  not  be  ran  at  full  capacity  more  than  about 

10  mouths  of  the  year,  the  power  during  the  rest  of  the  time  being  considerably  less,  even  by  drawing  down  the 
water  at  night  in  the  pond  (which  is  3  miles  long  and  luO  to  150  feet  wide)  to  a  certain  extent,  the  factory  being  run 

11  hours  a  day.  These  data  give  the  power  in  the  low  season  at  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  8  or  10  horse- 
power per  foot  fall  gross,  and  as  the  data  from  the  Georgia  factory  are  the  more  reliable,  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  in  this  case  it  is  impossible  to  say  to  what  extent  the  water  is  drawn  down  in  the  pond,  I  take  the  figures  used 
in  the  previous  table,  which  give  for  12  feet  fall  powers  of,  respectively,  96,  116,  650,  and  137  horse-power  for  the 
natural  flow  of  the  stream,  and  in  ordinary  years,  of  course,  about  170  horse-power.  The  dam  of  this  factory  was 
partially  washed  away  by  a  freshet  in  the  spring  of  1881. 

There  is  no  power  on  the  stream  for  12  or  13  miles  above  the  Athens  factory,  the  next  power  being  at  Burn's 
mill,  now  Hood's  mill,  where  the  fall  is  10  feet,  with  a  dam  9  feet  high,  the  power  not  being  of  much  importance. 

The  next  shoal  is  Hurricane  shoal,  in  Jackson  county,  16  or  17  miles  above  Athens,  where  the  fall  is  26  feet* 
in  a  short  distance,  and  the  location  is  said  to  be  safe.  The  power,  if  used  at  all,  is  only  used  to  run  a  small  grist- 
mill, with  a  few  pair  of  stones.  As  nearly  as  I  could  locate  the  place,  the  draiuage  area  above  it  is  about  230  square 
miles,  the  rainfall  being  the  same  as  already  given.    I  would  therefore  estimate  the  power  about  as  follows : 

Table  of  power  at  Hurricane  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Cubic  feet. 

1  foot  fall. 

2G  feet  fall. 

r  .  36 

4.1 

107 

{  230 

26 

1  45 

5.1 

133 

257 

29.2 

759 

J 

l  52 

5.9 

153 

This  site  is  conveniently  located  about  3  miles  from  the  North-Easterii  railroad,  and  is  said  to  be  a  very  good 
power. 

Above  this  there  are  other  shoals,  some  of  them  utilized  to  run  small  grist-mills;  but  regarding  them  I  have  no 
data,  and  as  the  stream  is  small  it  is  needless  to  specify  them.  This  part  of  the  state  has  a  healthy  and  salubrious 
climate,  and  offers  many  inducements  to  manufacturers.    Its  water-powers  will  doubtless  be  developed  before  long. 

The  Middle  Oconee,  or  Middle  fork,  takes  its  rise  in  Hall  county,  and,  like  the  North  fork,  flows  through  Jackson 
and  Clarke  counties,  to  join  the  latter  stream.  Its  length  in  a  straight  line  is  about  40  miles,  and  it  drains  a  total 
area  of  407  square  miles,  receiving  as  its  principal  tributaries  Mulberry  fork,  draining  97  square  miles,  and  Barber's 
creek,  draining  74  square  miles.  The  fall  of  the  stream  I  am  unable  to  state,  but  it  probably  does  not  differ  much 
from  that  of  the  North  fork,  which  it  resembles  in  all  respects.  If  anything,  the  latter  is  more  rapid,  the  Middle 
Oconee  being  said  to  have  many  low,  flat,  and  rich  bottom-lands  along  its  banks,  and  to  be  rather  sluggish  in  many 
places. 

The  first  shoal  on  the  stream  is  known  as  the  Simalton  shoal,  and  is  a  mile  or  so  from  the  mouth,  but  the  fall  is 
small,  and  of  no  value  for  manufacturing. 

The  next  is  the  Princeton  factory  (cotton),  2  miles  from  the  mouth  and  3  miles  from  Athens,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  point.  The  dam  is  similar  to  those  already  described  on  the  North  fork,  and  is  320  feet  long,  9  feet  high, 
and  was  rebuilt  in  1880  at  a  cost  of  about  $5,000,  having  been  constructed  originally  about  40  years  ago.  The 
foundation  and  abutments  are  of  rock,  and  the  pond  is  2  miles  long,  with  an  average  width  of  150  feet.  The  length 
of  the  head-race  is  300  yards,  and  it  is  20  feet  wide  and  2  to  3  feet  deep.  The  fall  at  the  factory  is  20  feet,  and  100 
horse-power  is  used,  and  can  be  obtained  all  the  time,  with  a  waste  of  water  at  all  seasons.  The  wheels  are  stopped 
by  high  water  several  days  in  the  year,  and  sometimes  two  weeks  or  more  in  all.  The  freshets  on  the  stream  are  quite 
severe,  aud  in  1880  there  were  several  very  large  ones — the  largest  since  the  "Harrison  freshet"  of  May,  1840.  In 
April,  1880,  the  water  rose  27  feet  at  the  factory,  and  was  7  feet  over  the  dam,  overflowing  the  canal,  and  causing  a 
stoppage  of  work  for  six  days.  In  1879  the  head-gates  and  canal  banks  were  washed  out  during  a  freshet,  and  the 
factory  was  stopped  for  one  month.   I  have  estimated  the  power  at  this  site  as  in  the  table  on  page  152. 

# Janes:  Handbook  of  Georgia. 

811 


152  WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Table  of  power  at  Princeton  factory. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

1*  tow  per 
second. 

Hors6-power  a/vailEible 
gross. 

Remarks. 

Minim  am  low  season  

Sq.  miles. 

[  330 
J 

Feet. 

20 

Cubic  feet, 
r  52 
66 
363 

{  77 

!  | 

1  foot /all.   20  feet  fall. 
6.0  120 
7.5  150 
41. 2  j  825 
8.7  |  175 

[  Low  season  of  ordinary  years,  215  horse-power. 

The  next  power  is  Jennings'  grist-mill,  3  miles  above,  where  the  fall  is  8i  feet,  with  a  dam  4  feet  high.  The 
power  utilized  is  very  small.  That  available  may  be  calculated  by  comparing  with  the  above  table  for  the  factory, 
the  quantity  of  water  being  about  the  same  at  both  places. 

McElroy's  mill  is  the  next  power,  1£  miles  above,  and  4  miles  from  Athens.  The  fall  is  13  feet,  with  a  dam  0 
feet  high  and  a  race  300  feet  long.  The  mill  runs  3  pair  of  stones,  and  can  be  run  all  the  year.  The  power 
available  can  be  approximated  to  as  above,  there  being  no  tributaries  of  importance  between  this  place  and  the 
factory. 

The  next  power  is  at  Tallassee  falls,  8  or  9  miles  from  Athens,  and  about  4  miles  above  McElroy's  mill.  This 
shoal  is  1,200  yards  long,  and  the  total  fall  is  stated  to  be  51  feet.*  Part  of  this  fall  was  at  one  time  used  by  a 
cotton  factory,  but  now  only  by  a  grist-mill,  located  at  about  the  center  of  the  shoal,  with  a  wing-dam,  a  race  300 
yards  long,  and  a  fall  of  14  feet.  The  whole  fall  of  the  shoal  could  without  difficulty  be  utilized,  but  in  two  parts — 
the  upper  part  being  used  on  the  left  bank,  and  the  lower  on  the  right.  There  was  formerly  a  saw-mill  on  the 
right  bank  near  the  foot  of  the  shoal.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock,  gravel,  and  bowlders,  and  its  width  is  from 
150  to  200  feet.   The  folio  whig  table  shows  my  estimate  of  the  power : 

Table  of  flow  and  power  at  Tallassee  falls. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sg.  miles. 


307 


Pall. 


Feet. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


Oubie  feet.  1  foot  fall. 
(  50  5. 7 


61 
340 
70 


7.0 
38.6 
8.0 


51  feetfaU. 

290 
360 
1,  978 
4W 


Above  this  shoal  there  are  said  to  be  no  large  powers  on  the  stream,  although  there  are  some  sites  where 
grist-mills  might  be  located,  and  some  mills  in  operation. 

Of  the  tributaries  to  the  Middle  Oconee,  the  first  is  Barber's  creek,  which  enters  below  the  Princeton  factory 
from  the  west,  draining  74  square  miles. 

Half  a  mile  from  its  mouth  is  the  Pioneer  paper-mill,  using  a  fall  of  20  feet  and  120  horse-power,  which  can  be 
obtained  during  nine  months,  while  for  the  rest  of  the  year  only  GO  horse- power  can  be  obtained.  Steam-power  to 
the  extent  of  30  horse-power  is  used  all  the  time,  and  80  horse-power  during  three  months.  Three  miles  from  the 
mouth  is  an  unutilized  power  known  as  Epps'  shoal,  the  fall  being  stated  at  24  feet  in  60  yards,  all  available.  Four 
miles  above  is  a  third  site,  not  used  at  present,  the  fall  being  stated  at  20  feet  in  300  yards. 

Mulberry  fork,  which  enters  the  Middle  Oconee  above  Tallassee  falls,  drains  97  square  miles,  and  has  some 
shoals,  used  and  idle,  on  the  main  stream  and  tributaries,  many  of  which  might  doubtless  be  utilized  with 
advantage,  affording  good  powers,  though  small, 


THE  OCMULGEE  RIVER. 

This  stream  has  its  sources  in  Fulton,  De  Kalb,  and  Gwinnett  counties,  but  the  stream  proper  is  formed  by  the 
union  of  the  South  and  the  Yellow  rivers  between  Butts  and  Newton  counties,  whence  it  flows  in  a  general  direction 
rather  east  of  south  to  join  the  Oconee,  passing  by  the  city  of  Macon,  the  towu  of  Hawkinsville,  and  a  few  other 
small  towns.  It  crosses  the  fall-line  at  Macon,  which  is  the  head  of  navigation,  and  below  which  there  is  no  power. 
At  present  the  stream  is  navigable  as  far  as  Hawddusville,  200  miles,  for  boats  drawing  5  feet.  Regarding  the  length 
of  the  river  I  have  no  data,  but  the  distance  from  Macon  to  the  sea  is  generally  called  about  500  miles,  t  It  drains 
a  total  area  of  6,000  square  miles,  of  which  about  2,250  are  above  Macon,  so  that  the  water-power  district  is  not 
quite  so  large  as  in  the  case  of  the  Oconee.    The  character  of  the  stream,  of  its  flow,  of  the  drainage-basin,  and 


812 


*  By  Mr.  J.  W.  Bromby,  of  Athens,  who  measured  it. 
t  Annual  Report  Chief  of  Engineers,  1874,  p.  516. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


153 


of  the  rainfall,  is  about  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  the  Oconee.  The  declivity  is  probably  also  about  the  same, 
though  I  have  few  data  regarding  it.  The  elevation  of  the  river  at  Macon  is  probably  about  275  feet,  and,  according 
to  the  report  on  the  canal  route  to  connect  the  Ocmulgee  and  Tennessee  [Annual  Report  Chief  of  'Engineers, 
1872,  p.  531),  it  seems  that  the  fall  between  this  point  and  the  head  of  the  river  is  270  feet,  but  I  am  not  able  to 
state  with  any  accuracy  the  distance  between  the  two  places. 

I  proceed  to  describe  the  river  as  a  source  of  water-power  more  in  detail. 

The  first  power  is  near  Macon,  where  the  stream  crosses  the  fall-line,  and  where,  like  the  Oconee  and  the 
Savannah,  it  forms  a  long  shoal,  several  miles  in  length.  It  has  at  various  times  been  proposed  to  construct  a 
canal  from  a  point  on  the  river  10  miles  above  the  city  down  to  a  small  stream  called  Vineville  branch,  which  enters 
the  Ocmulgee  half  a  mile  above  the  city  limits,  and  to  utilize  the  water-power  for  manufacturing,  at  the  same  time 
supplying  the  city  with  water;  and  it  is  said  that  the  available  fall  at  Vineville  branch  would  be  42  feet  or  thereabout. 
The  project  was  started  in  1871,  and  the  Macon  Canal  and  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized;  but  as  yet 
nothing  has  been  done.  It  is  said,  on  good  authority,  that  the  scheme  is  perfectly  practicable,  but  opinions  differ 
as  to  the  difficulties  involved.  The  difficulty  in  bringing  the  canal  down  to  the  city  lies  in  the  fact  that  between 
the  latter  and  Vineville  branch  is  a  ridge  which  would  be  difficult  to  cut  through,  and  a  cemetery  which  could 
probably  not  be  crossed.  It  is  asserted  by  some  that  the  canal  could  be  built  for  $250,000,  and  that  little  blasting 
would  be  required,*  the  length  of  the  canal  being  miles.  It  was  proposed  to  build  a  dam  5  feet  in  height  at  its 
head,  where  the  bed  of  the  stream  is  solid  rock,  there  being  a  very  favorable  site  for  its  location.  Along  the  line 
of  the  canal  there  are  said  to  be  fine  clay  deposits,  and  near  its  head  an  abundance  of  very  fine  granite.  The  shoals 
on  the  river  below  the  proposed  head  of  the  canal  are  known  as  Healy's,  Wicked,  Wimbush's,  and  Cemetery.  At  the 
former,  which  is  7  miles  above  Macon  in  a  straight  line,  it  is  said  that  there  is  a  fall  of  nearly  10  feet  in  300  yards; 
and  at  Wicked  shoals  it  is  said  that,  the  fall  is  8  feet  in  a  mile,  while  the  Cemetery  shoal,  which  is  below  the  mouth 
of  Vineville  branch,  has  only  a  small  fall. 

The  project  of  utilizing  this  power  is  not  now  spoken  of  much,  and  I  was  unable  to  see  the  original  reports  and 
estimates,  which  have  been  lost.  The  only  report  that  I  could  find  is  one  by  F.  P.  Holcomb,  engineer,  published 
some  years  ago  in  one  of  the  Macon  daily  papers.  It  is  there  stated  that  the  fall  from  the  head  of  Healy's  shoals 
to  Macon,  a  distance  of  7.6  miles  by  the  canal,  is  31  feet;  adding  7  feet  for  a  dam,  and  subtracting  4  feet  for  friction, 
the  available  fall  is  34  feet.  By  going  further  up  stream  with  the  canal,  this  may  be  increased  to  40  feet  or 
thereabout. 

The  drainage  area  above  Macon  is  about  2,250  square  miles,  and  I  have  estimated  the  power  in  the  table  below. 
The  flow  of  the  stream  is  said  to  be  quite  variable,  indeed — a  characteristic  we  have  noticed  in  the  case  of  the 
Oconee.  The  freshets  are  very,  heavy,  and  the  stream  rises  sometimes  22  feet  at  Macon.  There  have  been  no 
continued  gaugings  of  the  river,  but  it  is  stated  that  the  flow  at  average  low  water  is  about  1,100  cubic  feet  per 
second.  The  fact  that  in  Holcomb's  report,  above  referred  to,  the  ordinary  low-water  flow  is  given  at  481  cubic  feet 
per  second  will  show  the  unreliability  of  a  single  measurement.  It  is  said  that  in  1839  the  flow  was  at  its  minimum, 
and  was  360  cubic  feet  per  second. 

Table  of  power  at  Macon  canal  (projected). 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-pewer  available, 
gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

1 

Feet. 

Cubic  feet, 
f  360 
475 

1       2, 150 
1  540 

1  foot  fall. 
41.0 

54.0 
244. 3 
61.3 

iOfeet  fall. 
1,640 
2, 16!) 
9,  770 
2,  450 

j-       2,250  |  40± 
J 

It  is  to  be  remarked  here  that  the  above  estimates  have  been  made  entirely  independent  of  the  measurements 
referred  to  above,  and  the  agreement  is  surprising.  The  minimum  is  found  by  taking  the  discharge  at  0.1.6  cubic 
foot  per  second  per  square  mile,  the  same  figure  that  was  assumed  for  the  Oconee  above  Milledgeville,  and  arrived 
at  by  a  careful  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances. 

The  economical  location  of  Macon  is  very  favorable,  and  the  map  will  show  that  a  number  of  railroads  diverge 
from  the  city.  The  Ocmulgee  is  navigable  (or  can  be  made  so)  up  to  the  place  for  boats  carrying  1,000  bales  of 
cotton.    The  navigation  is  unobstructed  as  far  as  Brunswick,  but  above  that  point  it  is  obstructed  by  two  bridges. 

The  river  has  been  examined  above  Macon  by  Colonel  B.  W.  Frobel,  under  the  direction  of  -Major  King,  of  the 
United  States  engineer  corps,  and  his  report  is  to  be  found  in  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  1876, 
Appendix  1',  \).  20.  From  this  report  most  of  the  following  information  has  been  condensed.  All  the  shoals 
specified  in  the  report  will  be  found  mentioned  in  the  table  on  page  154;  but  regarding  many  of  them  I  have  no 
information  in  addition  to  what  is  there  given. 

Holt's  shoal,  iu  the  upper  part  of  Bibb  county,  is  not  utilized.    The  stream  is  about  325  feet  wide. 

"Butler:  Historical  Record  of  Macon  and  Central  Georgia,  p.  '292. 

813 


154 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


At  Johnston's  shoal  the  river  is  divided  by  three  small  islands,  and  the  total  width  of  the  stream  above  the  shoal  ia 
450  feet,  and  below  it  350.  Harris'  shoal  is  in  Monroe  and  Jones  counties,  as  are  all  the  following  shoals  up  to  Head's 
shoal,  which  is  just  at  the  upper  corner  of  Jones.  The  most  important  in  this  distance  is  Glover's  Mill  shoal,  or 
Long  shoal,  which  is  used  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  is  4  or  5  miles  below  the  upper  corner  of  Monroe  county, 
and  about  10  miles  from  Forsyth.  It  is  said  that  the  entire  fall  is  available,  with  good  facilities  for  canals  and 
buildings.  The  next  shoal  is  Seven  Islands  shoal,  in  Butts  and  Jasper  counties,  and  about  20  or  25  miles  from 
Forsyth.  There  was  at  one  time  a  cotton  factory  at  this  place,  but  now  there  is  only  a  grist-  and  saw-mill.  The  width 
of  the  streain^it  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  350  feet,  but  it  rapidly  expands,  and  is  500  feet  wide  near  the  foot.  It  is- 
said  that  the  entire  fall  is  available,  and  the  site  is  called  one  of  the  best  on  the  river.  Beach's  shoal  is  the  next  one 
which  is  utilized,  there  being  a  grist-mill  on  the  left  bank,  with  a  canal  nearly  the  whole  length  of  the  shoal,  and  a 
dam  acioss  a  narrow  arm  of  the  river  over  to  an  island.  The  width  of  the  stream  at  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  about 
400  feet.  The  most  important  shoal  above*Maeon,  however,  is  Lloyd's,  the  total  fall  being  over  39  feet  in  less  than 
2  miles,  the  principal  part  of  which  occurs  at  the  head,  in  a  distance  of  2,000  feet,  but  the  whole  of  which  is 
probably  available.  The  bottom  is  solid  rock,  and  the  banks  generally  high,  except  that  on  the  left  bank  there  is 
a  bottom  near  the  foot  of  the  shoal.  At  Cap's  shoal  the  river  is  divided  by  islands  into  three  channels,  the  width 
just  above  the  shoal  being  350  feet.  Just  above  Harvey's  shoal  the  Alcovee  river  enters  from  the  north.  At  Lemon 
shoal,  the  next  one  above,  a  natural  rock  dam  extends  almost  entirely  across  the  river,  leaving  an  opening  of  about 
50  feet,  called  Bull  sluice.  The  last  shoal  on  the  river,  Barnes',  is  just  at  the  junction  of  the  South  and  the  Yellow 
rivers,  and  is  utilized  for  a  grist-mill.  The  head  of  the  shoal  is  on  both  streams,  and  just  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  is  a  rock  ledge,  crossing  both,  and  forming  an  almost  perfect  dam,  with  deep  water  above  it.  The  width  of  the 
South  river  is  about  325  feet ;  that  of  the  Yellow  river  about  275  feet ;  and  that  of  the  Ocmulgee  about  500  feet. 

Xot  having  visited  any  of  the  shoals  on  the  river,  I  am  unable  to  give  detailed  information  regarding  the 
practicability  of  utilizing  them.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  stream  presents  a  large  amount  of  theoretically 
available  power  and  several  fine  sites  almost  entirely  unimproved.  Estimates  of  the  power  are  in  the  following 
table. 

The  chief  difficulty  in  the  way  of  the  utilization  to  a  large  extent  of  the  water-power  of  the  Ocmulgee  is  the 
inaccessibility  of  the  stream.  A  new  railroad,  however,  is  now  in  course  of  construction  from  Macon  to  Atlanta, 
which  will,  I  believe,  follow  the  river  quite  closely,  and  thus  remove  this  difficulty. 

Summary  of  power  on  the  Ocnmlgee  river. 


Locality. 


Macon  canal,  projected  

Bibb  county  : 

Holt's  shoal  .  -  

Holman's  shoal  

Monroe  and  Jones  counties  : 

Johnston's  shoal  

Harris'  shoal  

Bowman's  shoal*  

Taylor's  shoal  

Rum  Creek  shoal  

Dame's  shoal   

Falling  Creek  shoal  

Clark's  shoal  

Jarrell's  shoal  

Mitchell's  shoal  

Glover's  Mill  shoal  

Head's  shoal  

Butts  and  Jasper  counties : 

island  shoal  

Seveu  Islands  shoal  

Lamar's  shoal  

Roach's  shoal  

Pitman's  shoal  

Lloyd's  shoal  

Cap's  shoal  

Leveret  t's  shoal  

Harvey's  shoal  

Lemon's  shoal  

Barne6'  shoal  , 


Miles 
0 


Sq.  miles. 
2,250 

2, 235 
2,  200+ 

2,  200  + 
2,  200  + 
2, 200+ 
2,  200 
2,  000+ 
2,  000 
2, 000 
2,  000- 
2,  000 
2,  000 
1,  974 
1,640 

1,600 
1,  512 
1,500± 
1,450± 
1, 450 
1,  350  ± 
1, 350  ± 
1,  350  ± 
1,340 
1,  020 
1,  017 


Rainfall. 


a 

Z 

a 

•uoin: 

& 

w 

1 

m 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

11 

13 

9 

14 

Fall. 


Feet. 
40  ± 


3.  714 
1.  294 


5.  125 
2.  312 


10  miles. . . 

400  feet.. 
1,400  feet.. 


1,640 


150 


1,500  feet. 
3,000  feet. 


5.  732 
Small 
3.  644 
1.  566 
Small 
..do  . 
.  do. 
17. 916 


2,100  feet. 


400  feet.. 
3,200  feet 


1,600  feet. 


19.  515 
3. 953 
7.  500 
I  3.  510 
39.  627 
5.  580 


4.  000 
2.  600 
11.  645 


1,600  feet. 
1,300  feet. 
3,900  feet. 
1,800  feet. 
9,500  feet. 
400  feet 


600  feet. 
700  feet. 
500  feet. 


Horse  power  available,  gross.* 


ct 


'200 


2, 160      9,  770 


900 


270 


230  300 


1,200 


1,  360 


V. 

N 
13 


02  t>? 


2,  450 


230 


310 


350 


130  I      175        790  200 


650  I  850 


530 
110 
200 
90 
975 
140 


100 
50 
210 


700 
140 
200 
120 
1, 280 
180 


130 
70 
280 


3,870  i  980 


3,  350 
680 

1,240 
580 

6, 100 


620 
325 
1,350 


800 
160 
300 
140 
1,  460 
210 


150 
80 
325 


Utilized. 


I  Feet. 
0  0 


50±|  12± 

0   !  0 

0  0 

<50  20? 

0  0 


E1^ 

53 


Remarks. 


0   I  Width, 
Width, 

Width, 

Width, 

Width, 
Width, 


0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

11  ± 

0 

0 
13  ± 
0 


325  feet. 
400  feet. 


350-400  feet. 
500  feot. 


400-600  feet. 
400  feet. 


Width,  400  feet. 


Width,  500  feet 


Width, 
Width, 


400  feet. 
300-450  foet 


814 


*Soo  pages  18  to  21. 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


155 


TRIBUTARIES  OP  THE  OCMULGEE  RIVER. 

Some  of  the  tributaries  below  Macon  are  sand-hill  streams,  but  none  have  large  powers  utilized,  although  such 
might  perhaps  be  developed  in  places.  On  Mossy  creek,  a  small  stream  flowing  into  Indian  creek,  which  joins  the 
Ocmulgee  about  10  miles  above  Hawkiusville  and  drains  a  total  area  of  300  square  miles,  there  is  a  cotton  factory, 
with  a  fall  of  12  feet  and  60  horse-power,  the  dam  being  10  feet  high  and  the  race  50  feet  long.*  This  stream  is 
said  to  be  quite  constant  in  flow,  and  drains  about  116  square  miles ;  and  it  seems  probable  that  more  power  could  be 
obtained  on  it.  If  its  flow  and  its  general  character  resembles  that  of  the  other  sand-hill  streams  which  we  have 
considered,  it  would  afford  considerable  power.  I  have  no  information  of  the  streams  below  this.  The  largest 
tributary  is  probably  the  Little  Ocmulgee,  which  drains  a  total  area  of  776  square  miles,  but  it  is  so  far  below  the 
fall-line  that  it  is  not  probable  that  it  affords  much  power. 

Echaconnee  creek,  which  joins  the  Ocmulgee  from  the  west  about  15  miles  below  Macon,  is  a  considerable  stream, 
draining  272  square  miles.  Its  power,  however,  was  not  spoken  of  as  remarkable,  and  it  is  utilized  only  by  small 
grist-  and  saw-mills.  It  is  probable  that  it  partakes  to  some  extent  of  the  character  of  a  sand-hill  stream,  and  that 
its  flow  does  not  vary  so  much  as  that  of  the  streams  above  the  fall-line;  but  as  I  was  not  able  to  learn  much 
regarding  the  stream  I  submit  no  estimates. 

Tobesoffkee  creek  is  a  stream  similar  to  the  one  last  mentioned,  rising  in  Monroe  county,  and  flowing  through 
Monroe  and  Bibb  into  the  Ocmulgee,  about  10  miles  below  Macon.  It  has  a  few  small  grist-mills,  but  no  large 
powers  were  heard  of.    Its  drainage  area  is  260  square  miles. 

The  next  tributary  worth  naming  is  the  Towaliga  river,  which  takes  its  rise  in  the  western  part  of  Henry 
county,  and  flows  southeast,  forming  the  boundary-line  between  Henry  and  Spalding,  and  then  flowing  through 
Butts  and  Monroe,  joining  the  Ocmulgee  just  opposite  the  upper  corner  of  Jones,  after  draining  a  total  area  of 
about  320~square  miles  as  nearly  as  I  could  measure  it,  its  length  being  about  33  miles  in  a  straight  line.  Its  total 
length  is  stated  at  70  miles.t  It  is  said  to  be  quite  a  rapid  stream,  with  not  much  bottom-land,  except  in  its  lower 
part.    It  has  the  following  shoals: 

Willis'  shoal,  3  miles  from  the  mouth,  not  used,  though  formerly  there  was  a  grist-mill  there.  The  available 
fall  is  stated  at  10  feet,  with  a  dam. 

High  falls,  about  15  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  7  miles  from  Indian  spring,  9  miles  from  Milner,  the 
nearest  railroad  point,  and  14  miles  from  Forsyth,  is  the  best  water-power  on  the  stream  or  in  the  vicinity.  The 
stream  falls  here  81£  feet  in  a  distance  of  between  300  and  400  yards,  but  of  this  fall  49  feet  is  in  one  perpendicular 
pitch.!    The  power  is  used  as  follows: 

At  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  a*wooden  dam,  400  feet  by  10,  straight  across  the  stream,  with  a  race  on  each  bank, 
one  leading  to  a  grist-mill,  and  the  other  to  a  saw-mill,  the  fall  used  being  13  feet.  About  500  feet  below  the  first 
dam  is  a  second  one,  200  feet  by  3,  its  crest  being  10  feet  higher  than  the  top  of  the  high  fall,  300  feet  below. 
From  this  dam  there  is  a  race  on  each  side,  one  leading  to  a  cotton-gin,  and  the  other  to  a  gin  and  a  wool-carding 
machine.  The  high  fall  is  49  feet  perpendicular,  and  200  feet  below  it  is  another  shoal  with  about  10  feet  fall,  not 
used,  followed  for  some  distance  by  smaller  shoals.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  solid  rock,  and  the  banks  such  that 
the  entire  fall  of  71  or  72  feet  is  available.  The  drainage  area  above  this  place  was  measured  and  found  to  be 
about  200  square  miles.  I  have  therefore  estimated  the  power  as  in  the  table  below.  Mr.  Boardman  states  the  flow 
at  extreme  low  water  at  162  cubic  feet  per  second,  but  if  my  measurement  of  the  drainage  area  is  correct  within  a 
reasonable  amount  the  flow  must  either  be  very  much  smaller  than  this  or  there  must  be  some  very  exceptional 
features  in  the  drainage-basin.  The  table  below  is  estimated  on  analogy,  and  such  features,  if  they  exist,  would 
modify  the  figures  given.  I  have  used  nearly  the  same  proportions  in  calculating  this  table  that  I  used  in  the  case 
of  the  Appalachee  river. 

Table  of  power  at  High  falls,  Towaliga  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall.* 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet, 

Cubic  feet. 

1  foot  fall. 

49  feet  faU. 

71  feet  fall. 

r  26 

3.0 

14T 

213 

31 

3.5 

172 

248 

j  200 

211 

24.0 

1,176 

1, 704 

I  35 

4.0 

106 

284 

*  Total,  82  feet;  perpendicular,  49  feet;  total  in  shoal  proper,  71  feet. 


The  rainfall  on  the  basin  of  the  Towaliga  is  about  as  follows :  spring,  10;  summer,  12;  autumn,  10;  winter,  14. 
The  site  above  described  is  worthy  the  attention  of  those  seeking  a  location. 

*  Power  stated  in  statistics  of  cotton-mills  at  120  horse-power, 
t  White  :  Statistics  of  Georgia. 

i  All  of  my  information  regarding  this  power  is  due  to  Mr.  Arthur  Boardman,  of  Macon,  who  has  surveyed  the  power. 

815 


156 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Flat  shoal,  4£  miles  above  High  shoal,  is  about  250  yards  long,  and  the  fall  is  said  to  be  10  or  12  feet.  It  is 
not  improved,  but  is  probably  available.  One  mile  above  it  is  a  second  shoal,  with  a  small  fall,  and  1  or  2  miles 
further  up  is  auother,  but  neither  are  probably  of  value.  A  short  distance  above,  and  about  10£  miles  east  of 
Griffin,  in  Spalding  county,  is  Heflin's  shoal,  about  half  a  mile  in  length,  with  a  rock  bottom,  and  banks  8  or  10  feet 
high,  the  fall  being  stated  at  12  to  15  feet,  with  a  dam  4  feet  high ;  and  it  is  said  that  a  much  higher  dam  comld  be 
constructed.    Above  are  several  small  powers,  but  they  are  not  worthy  of  special  mention. 

Little  Towaliga  creek,  which  drains  about  55  square  miles,  and  enters  the  main  stream  a  frw  miles  below  High 
shoal,  has  2  mills  using  a  small  amount  of  power,  one  of  them  with  a  fall  of  27  feet. 

The  next  tributary  of  the  Ocmulgee  worthy  of  mention  is  the  Alcovee  river,  which  enters  from  the  left  only 
about  a  mile  below  the  junction  of  the  South  and  the  Yellow  rivers.  It  takes  its  rise  in  Gwinnett  county,  pursues  a 
course  nearly  south  through  Walton  and  Newton  counties,  entering  the  Ocmulgee  on  the  line  between  Newton  and 
Jasper,  its  length  in  a  straight  line  being  about  45  miles,  and  its  drainage  area  about  320  square  miles.  In  its 
upper  part  it  is  not  favorable  for  power,  being  flat,  and  with  no  falls;  and  it  is  only  below  the  Georgia  railroad 
that  there  is  any  power  worth  mentioning.  Its  elevation  at  the  crossing  of  the  Georgia  railroad  is  about  550  feet. 
The  following  are  the  powers  on  the  stream  as  it  is  ascended : 

Newton  Factory  shoal,  or  High  shoal,  about  5  or  6  miles  from  the  mouth,  and  11  or  12  miles  from  Covington, 
the  nearest  railroad  point,  is  about  half  a  mile  in  length,  and  the  fall  was  variously  stated  at  from  50  to  70  feet,  the 
former  of  which  1  believe  to  be  the  more  nearly  correct,  though  I  did  not  visit  the  place.  At  the  upper  part  of  the 
shoal  is  the  Newton  factory  (W.  E.  Phillips,  Atlanta),  but  the  dam  was  washed  out  in  the  freshet  of  May,  1881.  It 
was  200  feet  by  6,  affording  a  fall  of  12  feet  at  the  cotton-,  saw-,  and  grist-mills,  with  a  race  of  25  feet.  The  lower 
part  of  the  fall  is  used  by  the  cotton  factory  of  H.  &  T.  M.  White,  with  a  dam  of  loose  rock  50  or  60  feet  long  and 
3  or  4  feet  high,  reaching  only  part  way  across  the  stream.  A  head-race  of  60  feet  gives  a  fall  of  6  feet,  and  the 
power  used  is  20  horse-power.  Above  the  factory  is  a  grist-mill,  with  a  small  power.  The  total  fall  at  this  place  is 
said  to  be  available,  and  it  is  no  doubt  a  fine  power.  The  rainfall  on  all  the  drainage-basins  of  the  Alcovee,  South, 
and  Yellow  rivers  may  be  given  here  once  for  all.  It  is :  spring,  12 ;  summer,  13 ;  autumn,  10 ;  winter,  13  ;  year,  48. 
I  have  therefore  estimated  the  power  at  the  shoal  above  described  as  in  the  following  table : 


Table  of  power  at  Newton  factory  or  High  shoal,  on  the  Alcovee  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall.* 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

i 

iq.  milei. 
•  266± 

Feet. 

1 

Oubicfeet. 

r  37 
48 

264 
55 

1  foot  fall. 
4.2 
5.4 
30.0 
6.2 

50  feet  faU. 

210 
275 
1,500 
315 

*  Probably  59  feet  or  over. 


The  next  shoal  is  at  Henderson's  mill,  6  miles  south  of  Covington,  where  the  fall  is  9  feet,  with  a  dam  5  feet 
high  and  180  feet  long,  which  backs  the  water  4  miles.  Above  this  the  stream  is  sluggish,  and  there  is  said  to  be 
only  one  shoal,  known  as  Hinton's,  with  a  fall  of  5  feet  over  a  ledge  of  rock. 

The  principal  tributary  of  Alcovee  river  is  Bear  creek,  which  enters  from  the  left  below  High  shoal,  draining 
about  31  square  miles. 

The  Yellow  river,  one  of  the  two  streams  which  form  the  Ocmulgee,  takes  its  rise  in  Gwinnett  county,  and 
pursues  a  course  a  little  east  of  south,  cutting  off  a  corner  of  DeKalb,  and  passing  through  Rockdale  and  Newton 
counties,  draining  a  total  area  of  about  422  square  miles,  its  length  being  about  45  miles  in  a  straight  line.  It  passes 
within  3  miles  of  the  towns  of  Conyers  and  Covington.  It  is  a  better  stream  for  water-power  than  the  Alcovee, 
and  is  said  to  be  a  bolder  stream,  with  more  rapid  fall  and  less  low  ground.  It  is  "very  tortuous,  presenting  many 
abrupt  turns,  with  high,  sharp  spurs  jutting  in  and  frequent  rock  cliffs,  particularly  for  from  10  to  15  miles  in  the 
vicinity  of  Stone  mountain".*    The  finest  quality  of  granite  is  found  in  this  vicinity  in  inexhaustible  quantities. 

The  shoals  will  now  be  described  in  their  order: 

The  first  is  Indian  Fishery  shoal,  where  the  fall  is  12.2  feet  in  400.  At  the  head  of  the  shoal  a  natural  rock- 
dam  extends  entirely  across  the  river,  with  deep  water  above  it.  A  fall  of  11  feet  is  used  by  a  grist-mill  on  the 
right  bank,  which  is  the  most  favorable  side  for  building,  the  left  bank  being  steep.  The  width  of  the  stream  is 
about  320  feet.   The  table  on  page  157  gives  estimates  of  the  power. 

fi  "Annual  Report  Chief  ef  Engineers,  1872,  p.  530. 


> 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 
Table  of  power  at  Indian  Fishery  shoal,  Yellow  river. 


157 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


Sq.  miles.  Feet. 

Minimum    1 

Minimum  low  season   !  ! 

|  v      409       p  077 

Maximum,  with  storage   I        "  ! 

Low  season,  dry  years  :  ;! 


1  foot  fall. 
6.7 
8.6 
47.7 
9.9 


12.3/eet  fall. 

82 
106 
587 
122 


Allen's  shoal  has  a  fall  of  1.8  feet  in  400,  not,  used,  and,  unless  a  dam  of  considerable  height  could  be  built,  of 
course  useless.  There  was  once,  however,  a  mill  here.  The  width  of  the  stream  at  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  about 
200  feet. 

Lee's  shoal,  not  improved,  has  a  fall  of  3.9  feet  in  1,400.  The  width  of  the  stream  is  about  275  feet  at  the 
head  of  the  shoal,  and  the  bed  is  exposed  rock,  for  400  feet,  when  the  stream  bends  abruptly  to  the  right.  The 
power  is  probably  available.  The  drainage  area  of  the  stream  being  but  little  smaller  than  at  its  mouth,  the 
available  power  can  be  calculated  from  the  preceding  table. 

Webb's  shoal  and  Flat  shoal  are  two  shoals  with  small  falls,  and  are  of  no  value. 

Dried  Indian  shoal,  not  improved,  has  a  fall  of  7.2  feet  in  1,500,  all  of  which  is  probably  available,  and  could 
perhaps  be  increased  by  a  dam.  The  width  of  the  stream  at  the  head  is  about  200  feet,  and  the  bed  is  rock.  Dried 
Indian  creek  enters  below  the  head  of  the  shoal.    The  following  table  gives  an  estimate  of  the  power : 

Table  ofpoicer  at  Dried  Indian  shoal,  Yelloic  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  ... 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  m  ilea. 


400 


FaU. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available, 
gross. 

Feet. 

Cubicfeet. 

1  foot  fall. 

7.2/eef  fall. 

f  56 

6.4 

46 

1  72 

8.2 

59 

7.  241 

i  400 

45.4 

327 

[  84 

9.3 

67 

Cedar  shoal  is  the  next  above,  and  is  the  most  important  one  on  the  river,  the  fall  being  02. 6  feet  in  4,875,  or 
less  than  a  mile.  The  stream  is  very  variable  in  width,  and  the  channel  is  interspersed  with  islands.  At  the 
head  of  the  shoal  the  width  is  290  feet,  and  about  300  feet  below  is  a  dam,  extending  diagonally  across,  327  feet  long 
and  4  feet  high,  of  wood  and  stone,  built  in  1878  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  It  is  bolted  to  the  rock,  and  has  never  been 
injured  by  freshets.  It  backs  the  water  for  3  miles  with  an  average  width  of  300  feet  or  so.  A  race  300  feet  long 
leads  to  a  cotton-yarn  factory  and  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  on  the  right  bank,  the  factory  using  a  fall  of  16  feet  and  70  or 
80  horse-power  perhaps,  and  the  grist-  and  saw-mill  using  a  fall  of  21  feet  and  about  50  horse-power.  Full  capacity 
can  always  be  obtained,  with  a  waste  of  water  at  all  times.  Just  below  the  mills  is  a  large  island.  The  banks  on 
the  right  are  high  and  hilly  near  the  factory  and  below,  but  not  bluffy  till  near  the  foot  of  the  island  above  referred 
to,  where  they  are  very  steep  and  rocky,  and  continue  so  to  the  foot  of  the  shoal.  The  entire  fall  could  not  be 
utilized  on  this  bank.  The  left  bank  is  not  so  steep  or  hilly,  and  power  has  been  used  on  that  side,  a  dam  700  feet 
long  having  been  built  below  the  island,  extending  diagonally  across  the  stream,  and  supplying  power  to  mills  below 
by  a  race  700  feet  long.  No  power  is  used  here  now,  and  the  dam  is  almost  entirely  washed  away.  The  power  could 
doubtless  best  be  utilized  in  two  parts,  the  upper  part,  as  now  used,  on  the  right  bank,  and  the  lower  part,  with  a 
fall  of  43  feet  or  so,  on  the  left  bank.    The  width  of  the  stream  below  the  shoal  is  200  feet. 

The  following  table  contains  estimates  of  the  power: 

Table  of  power  at  Cedar  shoal,  Yelloic  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  31). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall. 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse  power  available,  gross. 

Sq.  miles. 

Feet. 

Cubicfeet. 

1  footfall. 

20feetfall. 

62.664  feet  fall. 

'  53 

6.0 

120 

376 

Minimum  low  season  

\  376 

68 

7.7 

154 

482 

Maximum,  with  storage  

62. 664 

■ 

376 

42.7 

854 

2,676 

J 

8.8 

176 

551 

This  shoal  is  3  or  4  miles  above  Indian  Fishery  shoal,  and  3  miles  from  Covington,  which  is  the  nearest 
railroad  point.    The  factory  above  described  is  known  as  the  Covington  Mills  (O.  S.  Porter). 

1012  w  P— vol  16- — 52  817 


158 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  next  shoal  above  Cedar  shoal  is  Crew's  shoal,  at  the  mouth  of  Turkey  creek.  The  fall  is  not  large,, 
perhaps  4  feet  or  so.  The  power  available  can  be  obtained  from  the  preceding  table  with  sufficient  accuracy. 
Hendrick's  and  Meriwether's  shoals  follow,  but  are  too  small  to  be  of  special  value.  A  fall  of  6  feet  could  be 
obtained  by  a  dam. 

The  next  shoal  is  5  miles  above,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Georgia  railroad,  and  is  known  as  Bridge  shoal.  The 
fall  is  4.3  feet  in  1,000,  but  the  principal  part  occurs  in  the  first  500  feet.  The  power  is  unimproved,  but  formerly 
there  was  a  mill  there,  and  the  remains  of  the  dam  are  still  to  be  seen.  The  width  of  the  stream  at  the  head  is 
about  125  feet.  The  banks  on  the  left  are  steep,  the  hills  running  close  up  to  the  river  for  the  entire  length  of  the 
shoal;  the  right  bank  is  8  or  10  feet  high,  of  rock  and  clay.  The  drainage  area  above  this  shoal  is  only  a  little 
smaller  than  above  Cedar  shoal,  so  that  the  power  available  may  be  approximated  by  taking  the  power  per  foot 
fall  the  same  as  there  given.    All  the  falls  thus  far  given  may  be  capable  of  being  increased  by  building  dams. 

A  short  distance  above  the  bridge  is  the  mouth  of  Big  Haynes  creek,  the  principal  tributary  of  the  Yellow 
river,  and  2  miles  above  is  Glenn's  shoal,  5  miles  from  Conyers,  with  a  fall  of  perhaps  12  feet  or  a  little  more.  Four 
miles  further  up  is  the  Bockdale  paper-mill,  2  miles  from  Conyers,  situated  on  a  fine  shoal  between  a  quarter  and 
a  half  mile  in  length,  with  a  total  fall  of  between  50  and  00  feet.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rock,  and  the  banks, 
though  not  bluffy,  are  sufficiently  high  to  allow  of  perfectly  safe  locations,  without  much  difficulty  in  building 
canals.  At  the  head  of  the  shoal  is  a  dam  150  feet  long  and  10  feet  high,  built  of  crib-work  in  1871  at  a  cost  of 
about  $1,000.  The  foundation  is  solid  rock.  The  pond  is  2  miles  long  and  200  feet  wide  or  thereabout.  At  the 
dam,  on  the  right  bank,  is  a  saw-mill,  using  a  fall  of  12  feet  and  12  horse-power.  A  race  700  feet  long  leads  on  the  same 
side  to  the  paper-mill,  where  the  fall  is  20  feet,  the  water  being  discharged,  not  to  the  river,  but  to  a  lower  race 
leading  to  a  grist-mill,  where  the  fall  to  the  river  is  13  feet.  The  paper-mill  uses  60  horse-power,  and  the  grist-mill 
30.  Below  the  tail-race  of  the  grist-mill  the  fall  is  at  best  15  feet  in  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  all  of  which  is  available. 
Full  capacity  can  be  obtained  at  these  mills  all  the  time  as  a  rule,  but  with  very  little  waste  of  water  in  dry  weather 
during  running  hours.  The  water  is  not  drawn  down  in  the  pond  during  working  hours.  The  following  table 
gives  my  estimate  of  power  at  this  shoal.    It  has  served  as  a  guide  in  my  calculations  for  other  shoals  on  the  river : 

Table  of  power  at  Rockdale  paper-mill,  Yellow  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available. 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. - 


Sq.  miles. 


222 


About  50  feet. 


Cubicfeet. 
(  31 

\  40 

1  222 

I  46 


1  foot  fall. 


50  feel  fall. 


3.5 

175 

4.5 

225 

25.2 

1, 260 

5.2 

260 

This  table  will  serve  to  show  the  available  power  at  Glenn's  mill  below,  the  drainage  area  being  about  the 
same. 

Six  or  seven  miles  above  this  shoal  is  Baker's  mill,  with  a  fall  of  9  or  10  feet,  and  2  pair  of  stones.  Above  it,, 
but  not  worthy  of  special  mention,  are  four  other  small  grist-mills. 

Big  Haynes  creek,  already  referred  to  as  the  principal  tributary  of  Yellow  river,  drains  about  85  square  miles. 
It  has  a  number  of  good  small  powers  not  used,  and  is  said  to  be  less  variable  than  most  of  the  streams  in  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  said  on  good  authority  that  it  has  more  available  powers  than  any  stream  of  its  size  in  the 
vicinity,  and  that  it  is  an  excellent  stream  in  all  respects.  One  of  its  tributaries,  Little  Haynes  creek,  has  a  couple 
of  small  mills,  and  below  its  mouth  there  is  no  power  on  the  main  stream,  but  above  there  are  several  shoals.  The 
lowest  is  Kennedy's,  with  a  fall  of  28  feet,  all  utilized,  the  dam  being  2\  feet  high,  and  the  race  500  feet  long. 
The  next  is  an  unutilized  power,  with  an  available  fall  of  about  20  feet  within  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
Then  comes  a  grist-mill  with  16  or  17  feet ;  then  a  shoal  not  used,  known  as  Indian  shoal ;  then  a  grist-  and  saw-mill 
with  25  feet  available  and  19  feet  used.   Above  are  other  and  smaller  powers. 

It  is  evident  from  the  foregoing  that  the  Yellow  river,  with  its  tributaries,  offers  a  large  amount  of  very  fiue 
power.  It  is,  in  fact,  one  of  the  best  streams  in  the  vicinity,  and  it  should  not  be  long  before  more  of  its  available 
power  is  utilized. 

South  river,  the  other  of  the  two  streams  which  form  the  Ocmulgee,  rises  in  Fulton  county,  not  far  from  the 
city  of  Atlanta,  flows  east  into  DeKalb  county,  and  thence  southeast,  forming  the  boundary-line  between  Bockdale 
and  Newton  counties  on  its  left,  and  Henry  and  Butts  on  its  right.  Its  length,  in  a  straight  line,  is  about  45  miles, 
and  its  drainage  area  is  595  square  miles,  or  greater  than  that  of  the  Yellow  or  that  of  the  Alcovee  river.  La 
general  character,  rainfall,  etc.,  it  resembles  them;  and,  like  the  former,  it  has  a  number  of  good  shoals,  affording 
considerable  power.  For  almost  all  my  information  regarding  the  water-powers  on  South  river- 1  am  indebted  to 
Mr.  A.  O.  Brown,  of  Conyers,  who  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  the  powers  in  the  vicinity,  and  whose  statements 
are  entitled  to  the  utmost  reliance. 

816 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


159 


The  first  is  Pine  Log  shoal,  not  utilized,  but  the  fall  is  small,  and  the  power  unimportant. 

The  next  is  Island  shoal,  5  or  6  miles  from  the  mouth  and  15  miles  from  Covington.  The  fall  is  about  17  feet 
in  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  all  of  which  is  available,  and  about  11  feet  of  which  are  used  by  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  with  a 
dam  2\  feet  high.  The  banks  and  the  bed  are  said  to  be  favorable.  The  following  table  gives  an  estimate  of  the 
power,  assuming  the  fall  at  17  feet : 

Table  of  power  at  Island  shoal,  South  river. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


iles.  Feet. 


"Mini-mum  

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years  . . 


578 


Cubic  feet. 
81 
104 
578 

i  ii9 


1  foot  fall.   |  17  feet  fall. 

9.2  I  15& 


11.8 
63.7 
13.5 


200- 
1,117 
229 


Three  miles  above  is  Snapping  shoal,  above  the  mouth  of  Snapping  Shoal  creek,  and  about  15  miles  from 
Conyers  and  Covington.  The  available  fall  is  16  feet  or  more  in  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  of  which  14  are  used  by  a 
grist-  and  saw -mill  with  a  wing-dam. 

Table  of  power  at  Snapping  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Drainage 
area. 


Fall. 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-power  available, 
gross. 


Minimum  -. 

Minimum  low  season  . . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. 


Sq.  miles. 


495 


Feet.    Cubic  feet. 

■  69 
89 
495 
102 


16  + 


1  foot  fall. 

7.8 
10. 1 
56.2 
11.6 


16  feet  fall. 

125 
162 
900 
18& 


Above  it  is  a  shoal  known  as  the  Pearsal  old  shoal,  now  not  used,  but  with  a  fall  said  to  amount  to  10  or  12 
feet  in  a  short  distance.  It  is  above  the  mouth  of  Walnut  creek,  and  the  flow  is  probably  about  four-fifths  of  that 
at  Snapping  shoal. 

Eight  miles  above  Snapping  shoal  is  Peachstone  shoal,  above  the  mouth  of  Cotton  river,  a  considerable  stream, 
which  enters  from  the  south  or  west.  It  is  said  that  a  fall  of  15  feet  is  available  in  one-third  of  a  mile,  of  which  a 
grist-  and  saw-mill  and  furniture  shops  use  10  feet. 


Table  of  power  at  Peachstone  shoal. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 


Minimum  

Minimum  low  season  . . 
Maximum,  with  storage 
Low  season,  dry  years. . 


Drainage 
area. 


Sq.  miles. 


253  ± 


Fall. 


Feet. 


15  ± 


Flow  per 
second. 


Horse-poweravailable, 


lfoot  fall. 

15  feet  fall. 

4.0 

60 

5.2 

78 

28.7 

430 

6.0 

90 

Passing  one  small  shoal  not  used,  and  of  no  value,  the  next  power  is  7  miles  above  Peachstone  shoal,  at  McNite's 
grist-  and  saw-mill.  A  fall  of  about  12  feet  is  used,  and  it  is  said  that  by  raising  the  dam  20  feet  could  easily  be 
rendered  available.   This  power  is  7  miles  from  Conyers,  and  above  the  mouth  of  Honey  creek. 

Table  of  power  at  McNite's  mill. 


State  of  flow  (see  pages  18  to  21). 

Drainage 
area. 

Fall.* 

Flow  per 
second. 

Horse-power  available,  gross. 

Minimum    . 

Sq.  miles. 
200 

1 

Oubic  feet. 
26 
34 
200 
39 

1  foot  fall. 
3.0 
3.9 
22.7 
4.4 

12  feet  fail. 

36 
46 

272 
53 

20  feet  fall. 

60 
78 
454 
88 

Maximum,  with  storage  

*  Utilized,  12  feet ;  available,  20  feet  ± . 


The  next  in  order  is  the  Powell  shoal,  which  is  not  utilized.  It  is  about  half  a  mile  long,  with  a  gradual  fall  for 
the  whole  distance. 

819 


160 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  Albert  shoal,  4  miles  above  McNite's,  and  unimproved,  is  said  to  have  an  available  fall  of  over  18  feet. 
The  bed  is  rock,  and  the  banks  good. 

Four  miles  above  is  Flat  shoal,  where  is  located  the  cotton  factory  of  the  Oglethorpe  Manufacturing  Company 
(Eobert  M.  Clark,  president).  A  wooden  dam,  200  or  250  feet  long  and  4  feet  high,  bolted  to  the  rock,  extends 
across  the  stream  in  the  shape  of  a  V,  with  the  apex  up  stream.  The  race  is  250  feet  long,  and  on  one  side  of  the 
river  is  the  factory,  with  a  fall  of  23  feet,  and  on  the  other  a  cotton-gin,  flour-  and  saw  mill,  with  a  fall  of  16  feet ;  and 
there  was  formerly  a  se6ond  factory  on  that  side,  but  it  was  burned  a  short  time  ago.  It  is  said  that  the  total  fall 
available  is  28  feet.  The  factory  is  a  yarn-mill,  with  3,000  spindles ;  and  the  one  which  was  burned  had  6,000. 
The  flow  of  the  stream  here  is  considerably  influenced  by  the  fact  tbat  the  city  of  Atlanta  takes  its  water-supply 
from  a  point  further  up,  pumping  the  water  up  by  steam.  The  exact  amount  thus  taken  from  the  stream,  however, 
I  am  unable  to  state.  Nevertheless,  Mr.  Clark  states  that  he  could  run  all  his  mills,  including  the  factory  which 
was  burned,  at  full  capacity  for  nine  months  of  the  year  by  running  12  hours  a  day  and  drawing  down  the  water 
in  the  pond  at  night.  I  submit  no  estimate  of  the  power  here  for  these  reasons.  The  shoal  is  16  miles  from 
Atlanta  and  7  miles  from  Lithonia,  the  nearest  railroad  point.  The  drainage  area  above  this  place  is  about  170 
square  miles.  The  estimates  given  for  the  shoals  below  this  are  of  course  almost  as  much  liable  to  error  as  those 
for  this  one  would  be.    As  the  stream  is  descended  and  becomes  larger,  they  become  less  so. 

There  are  no  powers  worth  mentioning  above  this.  The  most  important  tributary  of  South  river  is  Cotton  river 
or  Cotton  Indian  creek,  which  rises  in  Clayton  county  and  flows  east,  joining  the  South  river  in  Henry  county.  It  is 
said  to  be  a  good  stream  in  dry  weather,  and  has  several  mills  and  sites.  Its  drainage  area  is  about  125  square  miles. 

The  South  river,  like  the  other  streams  in  this  region,  is  subject  to  heavy  freshets.  The  year  1881  was 
remarkable  in  this  respect,  there  having  been  no  fewer  than  five  freshets  in  the  spring  within  six  weeks,  one  of 
which  was  the  heaviest  in  twenty  years.  Half  of  Mr.  Clark's  factory  was  carried  away  in  the  third  one,  with 
machinery  and  all ;  and  the  fourth  one  washed  out  his  head-gates  and  races  and  part  of  the  dam.  On  Cotton 
river  one  dam  was  carried  away  four  times,  and  in  the  fourth  freshet  the  mill  also  was  carried  away. 

As  regards  the  facilities  for  the  construction  of  storage-reservoirs  on  all  these  streams,  it  is  only  to  be  said  that 
topographically  numerous  suitable  sites  could  be  found,  but  the  difficulty  is,  as  in  the  case  of  southern  streams 
generally,  that  the  lands  which  would  be  flowed  are  the  finest  farming  lands  to  be  had — the  bottom-lands  along 
the  streams. 

Table  of  power  utilized  on  the  Altamaha  river  and  tributaries. 


"Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


.Tributaries  to  

Do  

Do  

Oconee  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Little  river  :  

Do   

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Appalachee  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do.  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Altamaha. 
...do   

...do 

....do   

....do  

...do   

...do   

...do  ..... 

Oconee  

...do  

...do  

....do   

...do   

....do   

...do   

....do  

...do   

....do   

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do  

....do   

...do   

....do  

...do  

....do  

....do   

....do  


Georgia . 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 


Tattnall  . 
...  do  .... 
Johnson  . 
Baldwin  . 
Putnam. . 
Greene.  . 
...do  .... 


.do  i  Clarke  . 


..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..do 
..-do 
..do 


Putnam  

....do   

Morgan  

Newton  

...do   

Walton  

Morgan  

Walton  

...do  

Gwinnett  

Laurens  

...do   

Johnson   

Twiggs  

•..do   

Washington 
Wilkinson ... 

...do  

...do   

Hancock  

Jonbs  


Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

....do   

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

....do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  grist  

....do   

....do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

....do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Agricultural  implem'ts 

Flour  and  grist  

....do   


Feet. 


2 

•  i. 

2 
2 
"l 

3 
1 
4 
1 

2 
1 
1 

.-'$! 
l 

5 

1 

S 

2 

2 
.  3 

1 

3 
12 


820 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 

Table  of  utilized  power  on  the  Altamaha  river  and  tributaries — Continued. 


161 


Name  of  stream. 


Other  tributaries  of. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Tributary  to  what. 


Oconee 
...do  .. 
...do  .. 
...  do  .. 
..do  .. 
..  do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  .. 
...do  ... 
...do  .. 
...do  .. 
...do  .. 
do  .. 


State. 


North  Oconee   do 

Middle  Oconee  '  do 

North  and  Middle  Oconee  and  tribu 
taries. 

Do   ... 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Ocmulgee  

Do  do 

Do  do 

Do  \...-  .do  . 

Do  ....do 

Do   ...do 


.do 

.do 

do  . 
.do  . 
.do 

do  . 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 

do 
.do 
.do 


Georgia. 
...do  ... 
..  do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
..  do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 


.do 
do 
.do  . 
do 
.do  . 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do  . 
.do  . 
.do  . 
do 

Altamaha  |  do  . 

.do 
do 
do 
.do 
.do 


County. 


Baldwin  ... 

Jasper  

Putnam  

...do   

Morgan  

Walton  .... 

Greene  

...do  

...do   

Oconee   

Oglethorpe. 

...do   

Gwinnett . . 

Clarke   

...do   

...do   


Tributaries  of   Ocmulgee   ...do   Wilcox 


...do   

...  do  

Gwinnett . 

...do   

Madison  .. 

Hall  

...do   

Jackson  .. 

...do   

..do  

...do  

...do   

Monroe  ... 

Jones  

Butts  

...do   

Jasper  

Henrv  


Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 


.do  . 

do 

do 

do 
-do 

do 
.do 
.do 

do 
.do 

do 
.do 
.do 


Towaliga   do  , 


Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

AlcoTee  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  .... 

Do  

Do  

Yellow  river. 

Do  

Do  


.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do  . 

.do 

do 
.do 

do 
.do 
.do 
.do 
.do 


.do   do  

do   Dodge  

do   Pulaski  .. 

.do   do   

.do   . .  do  

do  !  Houston. . 

.do   do  

.do  j  do  

.do  i  Twiggs... 

.do   Crawford  . 

.do    Bibb  

.do  !  do  

.do   do  

.do   !  Monroe  . . 

.do  

.do  

.do  

.do  

do  

do  

do  

.do  

.do  :  

.do  

.do  

.do  

.do  

.do  

.do  


....do   

....do   

...do   

Henry  

. .  do  

Newton. . . 

...do   

....do   

....do   

Walton . . . 
Gwinnett . 

....do   

Newton.. . 

....do   

...  do   

*  Newton  factory — not  now  in  operation. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Flour  and  grist . 

...  do  

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

..  do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Saw  

Woolen  

Cotton  factory  . . 

...do   

Saw  


Paper  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Saw   

..do  

Flour  and  grist  . 

Cotton-gin  

Leather.  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist  . 

. .  do  

...do   

Saw  

Woolen  

Flour  and  grist . 

. .  do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

AVoolen  

Saw  

. . .  do  

Flour  and  grist . 
Cotton  factory  . . 
Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

..do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

. .  do  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  . 
Wool-carding. . . 
Flour  and  grist 

Saw  

Cotton  factory. . 
Flour  and  grist  . 

Saw  

Cotton  *  

Flour  and  grist  . 

...do   

Wheelwrighting 
Cotton  factory. . 

Paper  

Flour  and  grist  . 


1 

10 

75 

4 

52 

82 

2 

32 

26 

1 

12 

12 

2 

29 

13 

11 

170 

130 

1 

16 

15 

8 

146 

141 

13 

201 

187 

5 

82 

70 

1 

30 

10 

1 

I8 

6 

1 

12 

1 

12 

4 

48 

103 

1 

12 

40 

1 

12 

6 

2 

34 

14 

1 

6 

4 

1 

6 

24 

1 

10 

5 

45 

46 

1 

9 

4 

1 

9 

15 

3 

25 

46 

10 

186 

1 

12 

60 

1 

8 

11 

3 

36 

90 

1 

9 

20 

1 

9 

30 

1 

13 

8 

1 

9 

12 

1 

11 

15 

3 

39 

76 

1 

5 

4 

2 

100 

120 

2 

30 

36 

1 

6 

20 

2 

30 

40 

1 

19 

15 

1 

12 

2 

66 

IS 

3 

34 

54 

1 

14 

5 

1 

16 

76 

1 

20 

60 

1 

21 

25 

821 


162 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Table  of  power  utilized  on  the  Altamaha  river  and  tributaries — Continued. 


Name  of  stream. 


Tributary  to  what. 


State. 


County. 


Kind  of  mill. 


Number  of  milla. 

Total  fall  used. 

Total  horse-power 
used. 

Feet. 

2 

OU 

2 

24 

70 

I 

14 

10 

14 

10 

14 

10 

TJ 

15 

7 

Q 

Q 

66 

126 

g 

190 

1 

14. 
14 

15 

I 

g 

20 

Q 

3 

9 

3 

9 

20 

30 

10 

30 

25 

2 

24 

39 

\ 

1C 

\ 

9 

a 

2 

35 

65 

I 

10 

15 

1 

10 

12 

I 

10 

5 

I 

22 

9 

2 

34 

24 

1 

22 

9 

2 

74 

55 

11 

157 

148 

11 

9 

1^ 

5 

78 

38 

2 

33 

23 

52 

46 

119 

96 

10 

10 

2 

36 

33 

62 

48 

18 

A 
O 

2 

31 

*>2 

1 

Q 

1 

ou 

1  9 

10 

1  Q1 
101 

128 

D 

o 

44 

30 

6 

1 08 

54 

3 

yy 

1  r;o 
loJ 

1 

10 

20 

1 

15 

15 

2 

37 

18 

1 

12 

8 

3 

70 

73 

1. 

13 

1 

15 

8 

3 

35 

22 

2 

51 

10 

2 

26 

26 

2 

55 

20 

2 

32 

33 

1 

15 

3 

1 

18 

8 

2 

54 

32 

1 

15 

5 

1 

20 

Yellow  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

South  river  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Other  tributaries  of. 

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do...  

Do  

Do  

Tributaries  of  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do....  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  

Do  


Ocmulgee. 

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do  

. .  .do  

...do   

...do  

. .  .do  

. .  .do  

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  ...... 

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

South  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do   

...do  

...do  

...do  

Yellow  

...do  

...do   

...do  

...do  

....do   

...do  

....do  

...do   

...do   

....do   

Alcovee... 

....do   

....do   

....do   


Georgia. 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  .. 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do.... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  .... 
...do  ... 
...do  .... 
..  do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  .... 
...do  .... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
..  do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 
...do  ... 


Newton . . . 
Rockdale  . 

....do  

...do   

....do   

De  Kalb  . . 

...do  

Gwinnett . 

...do  

...do   

De  Kalb  . . 

Henry  

...do  

...  do  

..do  

Newton . . . 

...do   

Rockdale  . 

...do  

...do  

De  Kalb  . . 

...do   

...do  

...do   

Fulton.... 

...do   

...do  

Pike  

Monroe  . . . 

...do   

...do  

Henry  

...do  

Butts  

Henry  

...do   

...do  

Clayton . . . 
Rockdale  . 

...do  

...do   

...do  

Newton . . . 
De  Kdb  . . 

...do  

...do 

...do   

Newton. .. 

....do   

...do  

...do  

Rockdale  . 

...do  

"Walton . . . 

...do   

Gwinnett . 

De  Kalb  . . 

....do   

....do   

....do   

"Walton  ... 

Gwinnett . 

....do   

....do   


Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Furniture  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Furniture  

Saw  

Cotton  factory  

Flour  and  glist  

Agricultural  implem'ts 

Furniture  

Saw  

...do   

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Cotton-gin  

Furniture  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Furniture  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

Flour  and  grist  

.  .»do  

Saw  

AVoolen  

Flour  and  grist  

...do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Leather  

Flour  and  grist  

...do   

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Paper   

Leather  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  .  

Cotton-gin  

Flour  and  grist  

Saw  

. . .  do  

Flour  and  grist  

....do  

....do  

Saw  

Cotton-gin  

Furniture  

Flour  and  grist  

....do   

Cotton-gin  

Saw  


822 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


163 


XII. — THE  STREAMS  SOfjTH  OF  THE  ALT  AM  AH  A. 


These  streams  offer  so  small  an  amount  of  power  that  they  are  not  worthy  of  special  mention.  None  of  them 
Teach  above  the  fall-line,  so  that  they  have  no  falls  of  importance,  the  larger  ones  being  generally  sluggish  and 
navigable,  and  bordered  by  swamp-lands.  Some  of  the  smaller  ones  may  be  classed  as  sand-hill  streams,  and  offer 
-some  power,  which  is  utilized  to  a  certain  extent  by  saw-  and  grist-mills,  and  it  may  be  that  on  some  of  them 
moderately  large  powers  could  be  developed.  There  are  no  powers  in  Florida  which  are  worthy  of  special  mention, 
4ind  the  tables  of  power  show  that  there  is  only  a  small  amount  of  power  used  in  the  state.  There  is  only  one  point 
which  it  is  interesting  to  notice  in  this  connection,  namely,  the  amount  and  distribution  of  the  rainfall  in  the  peninsula. 
The  average  fall  in  spring  is  about  9  inches  over  the  whole  jieninsula,  or  not  more  than  in  the  New  England  states ; 
but  in  summer  it  is  greater  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  Union,  ranging  from  18  to  26  inches.  In  autumn  the  fall 
is  still  large,  varying  from  10  to  14  inches,  while  in  winter  there  is  only  between  8  and  10  inches  fall,  or  considerably 
less  than  in  some  parts  of  New  England.  This  distribution  of  the  rainfall  must  have  for  its  effect  a  very  uniform 
flow  in  the  streams,  and  it  does  not  seem  improbable  that  they  may  even  be  lowest  in  winter,  like  some  of  the 
western  streams,  instead  of  in  summer  and  autumn,  like  the  other  streams  on  the  Atlantic  slope;  but  I  have  nc 
data  with  which  to  test  the  truth  of  this  supposition. 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

In  glancing  over  the  previous  pages  one  cannot  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  very  large  amount  of  power  remaining 
unutilized  in  the  middle  and  western  parts  of  the  region  we  have  been  considering.  That  this  power  is  very 
large  the  numerical  data  which  have  been  given  leave  no  room  to  doubt;  that  a  very  large  amount  is  practically 
available  is  also  evident ;  but  it  will  perhaps  add  to  the  clearness  of  these  two  facts  if  we  devote  a  few  lines  here  to 
a  brief  recapitulation  of  the  principal  general  results  to  which  we  have  been  led. 

We  have  seen  that,  leaving  out  of  consideration  the  eastern,  or  navigable,  district,  the  topography  of  the 
region  is  very  favorable  for  power;  that  the  rivers  have  steep  declivities,  and  that  they  often  have  cataracts  or  # 
rapids  of  considerable  magnitude.  If  we  compare  the  declivities  of  the  southern  streams  with  those  of  streams  in 
the  middle  states  and  in  New  England,  we  shall  find,  in  fact,  that  the  former  are  at  least  as  great,  and  probably 
greater,  than  the  latter.  We  have  seen  that  the  elevation  of  the  Atlantic  plain  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  is 
greater  in  the  region  we  have  considered  than  anywhere  else  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  that  the  slope  of  that 
plain  does  not  vary  correspondingly  from  north  to  south ;  and  we  have  found,  as  would  be  expected,  that  the 
streams,  in  their  course  across  this  plain,  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea,  develop  an  enormous  amount  of  power. 
And  of  this  total  power,  much  of  which  is  necessarily  unavailable,  we  have,  nevertheless,  found  that  a  large  amount 
-can  be  developed  and  utilized  if  desired,  on  account  of  the  ledges  of  rock  across  which  the  streams  flow,  and  the 
falls  and  rapids  which  they  occasion.  But,  while  the  southern  streams  are  confined  entirely  to  the  Atlantic  slope 
•of  the  mountains,  taking  their  rise  on  the  extreme  eastern  ridge  of  the  system,  many  of  the  streams  in  the  middle 
states  have  their  sources  far  to  the  west,  nearly  or  quite  on  the  other  side  of  the  system.  Topographically,  then, 
the  chief  difference  between  the  northern  and  the  southern  streams  is  the  fact,  that  in  the  case  of  the  former  the 
greater  part  of  their  drainage-basins  is  included  in  the  western  or  mountainous  district,  and  the  smaller  part  in  the 
eastern  or  tide- water  district ;  while  in  the  case  of  the  latter  the  reverse  is  true,  and  the  eastern  district  extends 
far  above  the  head  of  tide-water.  There  is  one  respect  in  which  this  difference  in  configuration  acts  unfavorably 
•on  the  water -powers  of  the  south,  namely,  as  regards  transportation,  for  not  only  does  the  large  extent  of  the 
eastern  district  render  navigation  of  the  rivers  difficult,  and  transport  by  sea  less  easy  than  in  the  north,  but 
the  railroads,  in  the  water-power  district,  are  not  so  constrained  to  follow  the  river  valleys  as  in  the  case  of  the 
northern  streams,  which  often  flow  between  parallel  ranges  of  hills,  so  that  the  most  convenient  and  economical 
location  for  a  road,  and  often  the  only  practicable  one,  is  along  their  banks.  In  the  southern  states,  on  the 
contrary,  we  often  find  the  railroad  following  the  divides,  instead  of  the  water- courses,  and  the  consequence  is  that 
many  of  the  finest  water-powers  are  at  present  very  inaccessible.  But  it  is  evident  that  the  evil  is  of  a  kind  which  is 
easily  remedied,  and  which  will  be  remedied  as  soon  as  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  region  demand  it.  We 
have  seen  that  the  beds  of  the  streams  are  everywhere  favorable  for  the  construction  of  dams,  and  that  the  banks 
^.re  generally  favorable  for  the  construction  of  canals  and  buildings  at  the  points  where  the  water-powers  occur. 

As  regards  the  flow  of  the  streams,  we  have  been  altogether  without  data  derived  from  actual  measurement, 
and  have  been  obliged  to  draw  our  conclusions  from  a  study  of  the  circumstances  influencing  flow.  We  have  seen 
that  the  southern  states  are  probably  better  wooded  than  the  middle  or  New  England  states;  that  the  soil  is  deep, 
and  q«ite  pervious,  although  shedding  sudden  showers  with  considerable  rapidity;  and  that  the  mountains  are 
wooded  and  covered  with  soil ;  all  of  which  circumstances  act  to  render  the  flow  of  the  streams  constant.  And  the 
topography  is  also  favorable  in  this  respect,  for  we  shall  see  that  in  the  case  of  the  James  and  the  Potomac  rivers, 

823 


1(34 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


which  drain  a  large  extent  of  mountain  region,  consisting  of  parallel  and  narrow  valleys  between  high  hills, 
such  a  configuration  is  favorable  to  the  sudden  discharge  of  rain-water,  and  that  those  two  streams  are  therefore 
probably  much  more  variable  in  flow  on  this  account  than  they  would  otherwise  be.  We  have  seen,  further,  that 
the  principal  carriers  of  moisture  in  the  district  we  have  considered  are  the  winds  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and 
from  the  Atlantic,  but  principally  the  former.  In  the  summer  these  winds  are  deflected  from  their  normal 
northeasterly  course  by  the  tendency  of  the  atmosphere  to  move  toward  the  heated  continent,  and  winds  from  the 
south  and  southeast  are  more  frequent  than  at  any  other  season;  and  these  winds,  reaching  the  coast  either 
directly  from  the  sea  or  after  having  passed  over  only  a  small  extent  of  low  land,  deposit  a  considerable  portion  of 
their  moisture,  the  rainfall  decreasing  as  we  proceed  inland,  until  what  remains  is  condensed  by  the  lofty  mountains. 
In  the  winter,  on  the  contrary,  the  winds  which  bring  the  rain,  being  mostly  from  the  southwest,  deposit  the 
greater  part  of  their  moisture  on  the  mountains  and  the  high  ground  in  the  middle  region,  so  that  the  rainfall  is 
small  on  the  coast.  Just  here  lies  a  most  important  difference  between  the  rainfall  in  the  south  and  that  in  the 
middle  and  New  England  states,  for  while  in  the  latter  the  rainfall  in  summer  always  exceeds  that  in  winter,  in  the 
middle  and  western  parts  of  the  former  it  is  sometimes  greatest  in  winter,  and  rarely  greatest  in  summer.  If  we 
exclude  from  consideration  a  few  streams,  like  the  James  and  the  Potomac,  whose  flow  is  probably  rendered 
variable  to  a  large  extent  by  the  topography  of  their  drainage-basins,  the  conclusion  seems  justified  that  the  flow 
of  the  southern  Atlantic  streams  is  more  variable  than  that  of  streams  in  the  New  England  and  the  northern  part 
of  the  middle  states;  and  this  statement  is  further  strengthened  by  the  entire  absence  of  lakes  in  the  southern 
states.  In  so  far,  then,  the  water-power  of  the  south  is  inferior  to  that  in  the  north ;  but  we  have  also  seen  that 
the  rainfall  in  the  south  is  often  very  much  greater  than  in  the  north,  and  it  is  therefore  probable  that  these  two 
circumstances  offset  each  other  to  some  extent. 

We  have  further  seen  that,  as  regards  freshets,  although  some  of  the  southern  streams,  like  the  Cape  Fear 
and  the  Eoanoke,  are  subject  to  very  heavy  ones,  the  southern  streams,  as  a  rule,  do  not  compare  unfavorably 
with  those  in  the  north.  In  the  great  freshet  of  1854  the  Connecticut  river  rose  29  feet  10  inches  at  Hartford, 
which  would  be  an  extraordinary  rise  for  most  of  the  southern  streams.  The  trouble  in  the  south  as  regards 
freshets  lies  in  the  fact  that  on  the  large  streams  such  large  areas  of  bottom  land  are  subject  to  overflow,  a  drawback 
which  is  no  doubt  felt  more  than  in  the  north,  and  which,  combined  with  the  large  width  of  the  streams,  has 
probably  prevented  the  utilization  of  more  than  one  power. 

We  have  seen  a  great  advantage  of  the  water-power  in  the  south  to  lie  in  the  fact  that  the  streams  jiever  freeze 
over,  and  that  there  is  scarcely  any  trouble  with  ice  or  ice  freshets.  We  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
disadvantages  of  the  higher  mean  temperature  have  been  exaggerated,  and  we  have  seen  that  it  is  in  many  respects, 
a  very  favorable  circumstance.    As  regards  the  increased  evaporation,  wre  could  not  form  any  definite  ideas. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  then,  may  we  not,  from  a  purely  technical  poiut  of  view  and  without  reference  to- 
manufacturing  advantages,  answer  in  the  affirmative,  and  with  emphasis,  the  question  whether  or  no  the  advantages 
for  the  utilization  of  water-power  in  the  southern  Atlantic  states  are  fine?  I  think  it  must  be  acknowledged  that 
they  are,  in  many  respects,  as  good  as  could  be  desired ;  and  when  we  consider  the  advantages  offered  in  those 
states  for  particular  manufactures,  like  that  of  cotton,  it  would  seem  that  the  time  cannot  be  far  distant  when 
these  powers  will  be  turned  to  account. 

In  closing  this  report,  I  must  once  more  take  occasion  to  caution  the  reader  against  supposing  that  the 
estimates  of  power  which  have  been  given  can  pretend  to  exactness.  Although  four  states  of  flow  have  been 
distinguished,  and  the  estimates  may  therefore  present  an  appearance  of  accuracy  and  detail,  this  distinction  has 
been  made  merely  with  the  object  of  conveying  definite  ideas,  and  of  leaving  no  room  for  misunderstanding  in 
regard  to  what  was  meant,  it  being  thought  essential  to  accomplish  this  end,  even  at  the  risk  of  giving  the 
estimates  an  appearance  of  accuracy  which  they  do  not,  and  cannot,  possess. 

824 


INDEX  TO  REPORT  ON  SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Page. 

Altamaha  river   144 

power  utilized  on   160 

Albert  shoal,  South  river   160 

Alcovee  river,  Georgia,  power  utilized  on   161 

Anthony's  shoal,  Broad  river,  Georgia   134 

Appalachee  river,  Georgia,  power  utilized  on   160 

Ararat  river,  power  utilized  on   89 

Area  of  Southern  Atlantic  water-shed   7 

Area  of  woods  in  Southern  Atlantic  water-shed   10 

Athens,  Georgia,  water-power  at   151 

Athens  cotton  factory   151 

Atlantic  plain,  elevation  of   22 

Augusta,  Georgia,  water-power  at   127 

Bannister  river,  utilized  power  on   46 

Barnett's  shoal,  Oconee  river   '  146 

Barometer   5 

Bath  paper-mills,  Horse  creek   132 

Beau's  shoal,  Yadkin  river   81 

Black  river,  power  utilized  on   88 

Blaekwater  river,  Virginia,  into  Chowan,  power  utilized  on.  27 

into  Staunton,  power  utilized  on.  47 

Bluitt/s  falls,  Great  Pee  Dee  river   79 

Broad  river,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina,  declivity  of  105 

navigation  of   105 

shoals  and  power  on   108 

power  utilized  on   124 

Broad  river,  Georgia,  power  utilized  ou   142 

Buckhorn  falls,  Cape  Fear  river   58,59 

Camden,  South  Carolina   91,  97 

Camperdown  mills,  South  Carolina   122 

Cape  Fear  Navigation  Company   56 

Cape  Fear  river   55 

improvement  of   55 

old  dams  on   57-60 

declivity  of   57 

tributaries  of   60 

and  tributaries,  drainage  areas  of   76 

summary  of  power  on   60 

utilized  power  ou   75 

Catawba  river   90 

shoals  and  summary  of  power  on   96 

great  falls  of   92 

declivity  of   91 


Page. 


Catawba  river,  tributaries  of   97 

utilized  power  on   123 

Congaree  river,  power  at  Columbia  on   102 

utilized  power  on   124 

I  Cedar  shoal,  Yellow  river,  Georgia   157 

Cheraw,  South  Carolina   77 

J  Cherokee  shoal  on  Broad  river,  South  Carolina   107 

Chowan  river  and  tributaries,  drainage  areas  of   26 

power  utilized  on   27 

Clifton  factory,  South  Carolina   114 

Climate   10 

Cloudiness   15 

Coast-line  of  Southern  Atlantic  States   10 

Columbia,  South  Carolina,  power  at   102 


table  to  explain  estimates  of 

flow  at   104 

Croes,  J.  J.  R   17,21 

Dan  river    32 

improvement  of   32 

declivity  of   33 

tributaries  of   39 

summary  of  power  on  34,  35,  37,  38 

utilized  power  on   46 

gauging  of   34 

shoals  on   33,  38 

Danbury,  North  Carolina    37 

Danville,  Virginia,  power  at   35 

Darrach,  Charles  G   21 

Deep  river,  North  Carolina     69-76 

navigation  of   56 

declivity  of   69 

tributaries  of   74 

summary  of  power  on   74 

utilized  power  on   75,76 

dams  on   60 

Drainage  areas,  measurement  of   6 

Discharge  of  streams   16 

effect  of  distribution  of  rainfall  on   17 

Dried  Indian  shoal,  Yellow  river,  Georgia     157 

Eastern  dr^ision  of  Southern  Atlantic  water-shed   8 

elevation  of   8 

Eatonton  factory,  Georgia   148 

Edisto  river,  power  utilized  on   126 

825—165 


1G6 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Page. 

Edisto  river,  map  of  drainage  area  of   90 

Elkin,  North  Carolina   87 

Elevation  of  eastern  division,  Southern  Atlantic  water-shed  8 

of  middle  division,  Southern  Atlantic  water-shed  8 

of  fall-line   8 

of  Atlantic  plain   22 

Enfield,  North  Carolina,  power  on  Fishing  creek  near   49 

Eno  river  and  tributaries,  utilized  power  on   55 

Enoree  river,  utilized  power  on   124 

Fall-line   8 

elevation  of    8 

Falling  creek,  Virginia,  power  utilized  on   47 

Falls  of  Neuse   52 

Fayetteville,  North  Carolina   62 

Flat  river,  North  Carolina,  power  utilized  on   55 

Florida   7,163 

Flow  of  streams   16 

circumstances  influencing  16, 17, 18 

estimates  of   18,24 

effect  of  forests  on  :   18, 22 

minimum   18,  21 

minimum  low  season   18,21 

maximum,  with  storage  17,19,21 

low  season,  dry  years   19,21 

fluctuations  of   17 

table  giving  extremes  of   20 

table  giving  fluctuation  of   21 

effect  of  distribution  of  rainfall  on   17 

Fogs   15 

Forests,  effect  on  water-power   9, 18, 22 

area  of     10 

Franklinsville,  North  Carolina   73 

Freshets   15 

Gaston,  North  Carolina   30 

Geology   9 

Georgia  Manufacturing  Comi>any   150 

Graniteville,  South  Carolina   132 

Grassy  Island  shoal,  Great  Pee  Dee  river,  North  Carolina. . .  79 

Great  Falls  of  the  Catawba,  South  Carolina   92 

Saluda,  South  Carolina   118 

Green  river   116 

Greenville,  South  Carolina   122 

Hairston's  falls,  South  Yadkin  river,  North  Carolina   86 

Hatton's  shoal,  Tugaloo  river   136 

Haw  river   63,76 

declivity  of   64 

tributaries  of   68 

summary  of  power  on   68 

utilized  power  on   75 

Herschel,  Clemens   21 

High  falls,  Towaliga  river,  Georgia   155 

High  shoals,  Appalachee  river,  Georgia   150 

south  fork  of  the  Catawba,  North  Carolina  ..  99 

Hitchcock's  creek,  utilized  power  on  .%.  89 

Horse  creek,  utilized  power  on   142 

Hurricane  shoal,  Nortk  Oconee  river,  Georgia   151 

Ice  freshets   15 

Indian  fishery  shoal,  Yellow  river,  Georgia   157 

826 


Page. 


Island  shoal,  South  river,  Georgia   159 

Jamestown,  North  Carolina   73 

Jewell's  mills,  Ogeechee  river,  Georgia   143 

Kerr,  Prof.  W.  C   5 

Landsford,  South  Carolina,  power  at,  on  Catawba   94 

Langley  cotton  factory,  South  Carolina   132 

Laurel,  North  Carolina,  power  on  Swift  creek   50 

Leaksville,  North  Carolina,  power  on  Smith's  river  at   40 

Little  river,  North  Carolina,  into  Neuse,  power  utilized  on . .  55 
North  Carolina  (headwater  of  Neuse),  power 

utilized  on   ^>5 

North  Carolina,  into  Yadkin,  power  utilized  on.  89 
South  Carolina,  into  Savannah,  power  utilized 

on   142 

Georgia,  into  Savannah,  power  utilized  on   141 

Georgia,  into  Oconee,  power  utilized  on   160 

Little  Pee  Dee  river  and  tributaries,  power  utilized  on   88 

Lockhart's  shoal,  Broad  river,  South  Carolina   106 

Lockville,  North  Carolina,  power  at   70 

Long  shoal,  Oconee  river,  Georgia   146 

Lowell,  North  Carolina    54 

Lynch's  river,  South  Carolina,  power  utilized  on   88 

Macon,  Georgia,  water-power  at   153 

Madison,  North  Carolina   42 

Maine,  water-power  of   23 

Mayo  river,  North  Carolina,  power  utilized  on   46 

Manchester,  North  Carolina,  water-power  at   62 

Meherrin  river,  power  utilized  on   27 

Middle  division  of  Southern  Atlantic  water-shed   8 

elevation  of.  8 

Middle  Oconee  river,  power  utilized  on   161 

Milburny,  North  Carolina,  power  on  Neuse  at   52 

Milledgeville,  North  Carolina,  power  on  Yadkin  air   81 

Georgia,  power  on  Oconee  at   145 

Mountain  shoal  on  Enoree,  South  Carolina   109 

Mountain  Islaud  shoal  on  Catawba,  North  Carolina   95 

Mount  Airy,  North  Carolina   87 

Murphy's  shoal,  South  Carolina   112 

Neuse  river,  drainage  areas   51 

summary  of  power  on   53 

tributaries  of   53 

power  utilized  on   55 

Newton  factory,  Georgia   156 

Ninety-nine  Island  shoal  on  Broad  river,  South  Carolina...  107 

North  fork  Oconee  river,  power  utilized  on   161 

Nottaway  river,  power  utilized  on   27 

great  falls  on   26 

Ocmulgee  river,  shoals  on   154 

survey  of   153 

tributaries  of   155 

power  utilized  on   161 

Oconee  river,  declivity  of   145 

tributaries  of   147 

shoals  and  power  on   147 

power  utilized  on   160 

Ogeechee  river,  power  utilized  on   144 

Oglethorpe  Manufacturing  Company   160 

Otter  river,  power  utilized  on  •  47 


SOUTHERN 


Page. 

Pacolett  river,  power  utilized  on   124 

Patterson,  North  Carolina   82 

Peachstone  shoal,  South  river,  Georgia   159 

Pee  Dee  river  (Great),  navigation  of   77 

declivity  of   78 

power  utilized  on   88 

Penny  shoal  on  Middle  Tiger  river,  South  Carolina..   112 

Piedmont  Manufacturing  Company   119 

Pig  river,  power  utilized  on   47 

Pocket-level   5 

Porf man's  shoal,  Seneca  river,  South  Carolina   138 

Princeton  factory,  Middle  Oconee  river,  Georgia   151 

Pugh's  falls,  Eoanoke  river   31 

Eainfall   13 

fluctuation  of  annual  ?  14 

distribution  of   14, 15 

effect  of  forests  on   18 

Beedy  river,  shoals  and  power  on   121 

power  utilized  on   125 

Roanoke  river,  declivity  of  .„   29 

tributaries  of   31 

power  utilized  on   46 

Eoanoke  Navigation  Company  28,29,32 

Rockdale  paper-mill,  Yellow  river,  Georgia   158 

Eockingham,  North  Carolina   84 

Eocky  Mount,  North  Carolina,  power  at   48 

Eocky  river,  North  Carolina,  power  utilized  on   89 

South  Carolina,  power  utilized  on   142 

Saluda  river,  declivity  of   116 

great  falls  of   118 

shoals  on   120 

tributaries  of   120 

utilized  power  on   125 

Saluda  Manufacturing  Company   116 

Sand-hill  streams,  description  of   61 

flow  of  62, 84, 85, 97, 104, 131 

Santee  river,  drainage  areas   90 

utilized  power  on    123 

Savannah  river   126 

declivity  of   127 

tributaries  of   131 

shoals  and  power  of   131 

utilized  power  on   141 

Scull  shoal,  Oconee  river,  Georgia   146 

Seneca  river,  power  utilized  on   138 

Shoals  of  Ogeechee   143 

Smiley's  falls,  Cape  Fear  river,  North  Carolina   57 

Smithfield,  North  Carolina   52 

Smith's  river,  power  utilized  on   46 

Snapping  shoal,  South  river,  Georgia   159 

Snow   15 

Soils   9 

Southern  Atlantic  water-shed,  area  included  in   7 

South  river,  North  Carolina,  into  Cape  Fear,  power  util- 
ized on   75 


HO  WATER-SHED.  167 

Page. 

South  river,  Georgia,  shoals  on   159 

power  utilized  on   162 

South  fork  of  Catawba,  declivity  of   98 

shoals  and  power  on   100 

power  utilized  on   123 

South  Yadkin  river,  power  utilized  on   89 

Spring  shoal,  south  fork  of  Catawba   98 

Staunton  river,  declivity  of    43 

survey  of   42 

shoals  on   44 

tributaries  of   44 

and  tributaries  of,  estimated  flow  and 

power   45, 46 

Stowesville,  North  Carolina   98 

Storage,  facilities  for   22 

Streams,  flow  of   10-21 

south  of  the  Altamaha   163 

Tallassee  falls,  Middle  Oconee  river,  Georgia   152 

Tallulah  falls,  Georgia   137 

Tar  river,  summary  of  power  on   49 

tributaries  of   50 

utilized  power  on   50, 51 

Temperature,  effects  of   23 

of  hottest  and -coldest  months   23 

extremes  of   12 

of  warmest  day   13 

mean  annual  and  season    10, 11, 12 

Tidal  water-power  •   21 

Tiger  river,  power  utilized  on   124 

Toccoa  falls,  Georgia   137 

Topography   7 

Towaliga  river,  power  utilized  on   161 

Trotter's  shoal,  Savannah  river   130 

Trough  shoal,  Pacolett  river,  South  Carolina   113 

Tugaloo  river,  power  utilized  on   136 

Turnersburg,  North  Carolina   86 

Van  Patten's  shoal,  Enoree  river,  South  Carolina   110 

Vancluse  factory,  Horse  creek,  South  Carolina   132 

Wages  lower  in  South  than  in  North   23 

Ward's  fork  (Little  Eoanoke),  power  utilized  on   47 

Wateree  river,  declivity  of   91 

navigation  of   90 

canal  near  Camden   91 

Weldon,  North  Carolina,  water-power  at   29 

power  available  at   30 

Wells,  water-power  of  Maine   23 

Western  division  of  southern  Atlantic  water-shed   9 

Winds   10 

Yadkin  river,  declivity  of   78 

tributaries  of   83 

summary  of  power  on   82, 83 

drainage  areas   87,88 

power  utilized  on   88 

narrows  of   79 

Yellow  river,  shoals  on   157,158 

827 


INDEX   OF   W ATEE-COUR8ES. 


•  Page. 

Abbott's  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Alamance  creek,  North  Carolina   69,  76 

Alcovee  river,  Georgia   156 

Altamaha  river,  Georgia   144 

Appalachee  river,  Georgia    148 

Ararat  river,  North  Carolina  . ..'   87, 88 

Barber's  creek,  Georgia   152 

Bannister  river,  Virginia   39 

Bear  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Beaver  creek,  North  Carolina   62 

Beaverdam  creek,  Georgia   136 

Big  Beaverdam  creek,  South  Carolina   137 

Big  Estatoe  creek,  South  Carolina   140 

Big  Generostee  creek,  South  Carolina   136 

Big  Haynes  creek,  Georgia   158 

Big  Pine  Tree  creek,  South  Carolina   97, 101 

Big  Sandy  creek,  Georgia   148 

Big  Stevens  creek,  South  Carolina   133 

Black  river,  North  Carolina   61, 76 

South  Carolina   83,87 

Black  creek,  South  Carolina   84, 87 

Black  water  river,  Virginia,  into  Chowan   25, 26 

Staunton   45, 46 

Bluestone  creek,  Virginia   44,  46 

Briar  creek,  Georgia   131 

Broad  river,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina   104 

Broad  river,  Georgia   134 

north  fork   134 

middle  fork   134 

south  fork   134 

Brown's  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Buffalo  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Georgia   148 

Bullock's  creek,  South  Carolina   115 

Bush  river,  South  Carolina   121 

Cain  creek,  South  Carolina   141 

Cape  Fear  river,  North  Carolina   55, 76 

Carver's  creek,  North  Carolina   62 

Cascade  creek,  North  Carolina   41 

Catawba  river,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina   90 

south  fork  of,  North  Carolina   98, 101 

Cedar  creek,  Georgia   136 

Charles  river,  Massachusetts   20 

Chatuga  river,  Georgia  and  South  Carolina   137 


Page. 

Chauga  creek,  South  Carolina   137 

Choestoe  creek,  South  Carolina   137 

|  Chowan  river,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina   24,26 

Cochituate  river,  Massachusetts   17, 21 

1 1  Coldwater  creek,  Georgia   136 

Commissioner's  creek,  Georgia   148 

Congaree  river,  South  Carolina   90, 101 

Congaree  creek,  South  Carolina   90, 104 

Concoi-d  river,  Massachusetts   20, 21 

Connecticut  river  17,  20, 164 

Conneross  creek,  South  Carolina   139 

Contentnea  creek,  North  Carolina   51,  53 

Cotton  river,  Georgia   160 

Country-line  creek,  North  Carolina    39 

Crane  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Crooked  creek,  South  Carolina   84 

Croton  river,  New  York  17,20,21 

west  branch,  New  York  17, 20, 21 

I  Cub  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Dan  river,  North  Carolina     32 

Delaware  river   20 

Deep  river,  North  Carolina   69,76 

Deep  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

South  Carolina   139 

Dutchman's  creek,  North  Carolina,  into  South  Yadkin   87 

Yadkin   88 

Catawba   100, 101 

J  Eaton  brook,  New  York  ,. ..  17 

Echaconnee  creek,  Georgia   155 

Edisto  river,  South  Carolina   90, 126 

north  fork   90,126 

south  fork   90,126 

Eighteen-mile  creek,  South  Carolina   139 

Elkin  river,  North  Carolina   87,88 

Eno  river,  North  Carolina   54 

Enoree  river,  South  Carolina   108 

Fair  Forest  creek,  South  Carolina   112 

Falling  creek,  North  Carolina   84,87 

Falling  river,  Virginia   44, 46 

First  Broad  river,  North  Carolina   115 

Fishing  creek,  South  Carolina   98, 101 

North  Carolina   49 

Fisher's  river,  North  Carolina   88 

Flat  river,  North  Carolina   51,54 


829—169 


170 


WATER-POWER  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Page. 

Fontaine's  creek,  Virginia   26 

Fourth  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Goose  river,  Virginia   45, 46 

Grant's  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Great  Pee  Dee  river,  North  Carolina   77 

Green  river,  North  Carolina   116 

Greenbriar  river,  West  Virginia   20 

Gum  Swamp  creek,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina   83 

Gunpowder  creek,  North  Carolina   101 

Hackensack  river,  New  Jersey   20 

Hale's  brook,  Massachusetts   20 

Hardlabor  creek,  Georgia   150 

Haw  river,  North  Carolina   63, 76 

Reedy  fork  of,  North  Carolina   69, 76 

Hitchcock's  creek,  North  Carolina   84, 87 

Hogan's  creek,  North  Carolina   40 

Horse  creek,  South  Carolina   132 

Housatonic  river,  Connecticut   20 

Hudson  river,  Georgia   134 

Hunting  creek,  North  Carolina   86,87 

Hyco  river,  North  Carolina   39 

Indian  creek,  Georgia   155 

James  river,  Virginia   20 

John's  river,  North  Carolina   101 

Jones  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Kanawha  river,  West  Virginia   20 

.  Keowee  river,  South  Carolina   140 

King's  creek,  North  Carolina   115 

Lane's  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Laurel  creek,  South  Carolina   122 

Lawson's  fork  of  Pacolett  river,  South  Carolina   114 

Linville  river,  North  Carolina   101 

Little  river,  North  Carolina,  into  Neuse   51,53 

headwaters  of  Neuse   51, 54 

into  Yadkin   87 

Little  river,  South  Carolina,  into  Broad   108 

,                           into  Saluda   121 

into  Savannah   133 

into  Keowee   140 

Little  river,  Georgia,  into  Savannah   133 

into  Oconee   148 

Little  Beaverdam  creek,  South  Carolina   137 

Little  Generostee  creek,  South  Carolina   136 

Little  Haynes  creek,  Georgia    158 

Little  Horse  creek,  South  Carolina   133 

Little  Lynch's  creek,  South  Carolina   84, 87 

Little  Ogeechee  creek,  Georgia   144 

Little  Pee  Dee  river,  South  Carolina   83,  87 

Little  Pine  Tree  creek,  South  Carolina   97, 101 

Little  Rockfish  creek,  North  Carolina    62,76 

Little  Saluda  creek,  South  Carolina   121 

Little  Towaliga  creek,  Georgia   156 

Little  Yadkin  river,  North  Carolina   88 

Long  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Long  Cane  creek,  South  Carolina   133 

Lower  creek,  North  Carolina   101 

Lower  Little  river,  North  Carolina,  into  Catawba   101 

into  Cape  Fear   62, 76 

Loving's  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

830 


Page. 

Lower  Three  Runs,  South  Carolina   131 

Lumber  river,  South  Carolina   83, 87 

Lynch's  river,  South  Carolina   84, 87 

Mayo  river,  North  Carolina   41 

McBean's  creek,  Georgia   132 

Meherrin  river,  Virginia   24, 26 

north  fork   26 

middle  fork   26 

south  fork   ♦  26 

Merrimac  river   20, 21 

Middle  Broad  river,  Georgia   135 

Middle  Little  river,  North  Carolina   101 

Middle  Meherrin  river,  Virginia   26 

Middle  Oconee  river,  Georgia   151 

Middle  Saluda  river,  South  Carolina   122 

Middle  Tiger  river,  South  Carolina   112 

Mill  creek,  North  Carolina   101 

Mitchell's  river,  North  Carolina   88 

Moccasin  creek,  North  Carolina   53 

Moon's  creek,  North  Carolina   40 

Moravian  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Mossy  creek,  Georgia   155 

Muddy  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Mulberry  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Mulberry  fork,  Georgia   152 

Murder  creek,  Georgia  ."     148 

New  Hope  river,  North  Carolina   68,76 

Neuse  river,  North  Carolina  -   20 

North  Cove  creek,  North  Carolina   101 

Northeast  Cape  Fear  river,  North  Carolina   60, 76 

North  Meherrin  river,  Virginia   26 

North  fork  Broad  river,  Georgia  :   135 

Oconee  river,  Georgia   150 

Pacolett  river,  South  Carolina   114 

Saluda  river,  South  Carolina   122 

Tiger  river,  South  Carolina   112 

Nottoway  river,  Virginia    25, 26 

Ocmulgee  river,  Georgia   152 

Oconee  river,  Georgia   144 

north  fork   150 

middle  fork   151 

Ogeechee  river,  Georgia   143 

Ohio  river   20 

Otter  river,  Virginia   44, 46 

Pacolett  river,  South  Carolina   113 

Lawson's  fork   114 

south  fork   114 

north  fork   114 

Palmetto  creek,  Georgia   148 

Passaic  river   20 

Patroon's  creek,  New  York   17 

Pee  Dee  river,  South  Carolina  and  North  Carolina   77 

Pig  river,  Virginia   45,  46 

Potomac  river   20 

Reaburn's  creek,  South  Carolina   122 

Reedy  river,  South  Carolina   121 

Reedy  fork  of  Haw  river,  North  Carolina   C9,  7(i 

Red  Bank  creek,  South  Carolina   104 

Reddie's  river,  North  Carolina   38' 


SOUTHERN  ATLANTIC  WATER-SHED. 


171 


Page. 

Kichardson's  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Eoanoke  river,  North  Carolina  and  Virginia   27 

Eoaring  river,  North  Carolina   88 

Eock  creek,  Maryland   20 

Eocknsk  creek,  North  Carolina   61, 76 

Eocky  creek,  North  Carolina,  into  South  Yadkin   86,87 

South  Carolina,  into  Edisto   90, 126 

into  Catawba   97,101 

E6*cky  river,  North  Carolina,  into  Deep   74,  76 

into  Pee  Dee   85, 87 

Eocky  river,  South  Carolina,  into  Savannah   .  135 

Eowanty  creek,  Virginia   26 

Saluda  river,  South  Carolina   116 

north  fork   122 

middle  fork   122 

south  fork   122 

Eeedyfork   121 

Sandy  river,  Virginia  ,   40 

Sandy  creek,  North  Carolina   50 

Georgia   150 

Santee  river,  South  Carolina   90 

Savannah  river,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia   126 

Schuylkill  river,  Pennsylvania   20,21 

Second  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Secoud  Broad  river,  North  Carolina   115 

Seneca  river,  South  Carolina   138 

Shaw's  creek,  South  Carolina    90, 126 

Shenandoah  river,  Virginia   20 

Shoal  creek,  Georgia   137 

Smith's  river,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina   40 

South  river,  North  Carolina   60, 76 

Georgia   158 

South  fork  of  Broad  river,  Georgia   135 

Catawba  river,  North  Carolina   98, 101 

Meherrin  river,  Virginia   26 

Pacolett  river,  South  Carolina   114 

Saluda  river,  South  Carolina   122 

Tiger  river,  South  Carolina   112 

South  Yadkin  river,  North  Carolina   85,  87 


Page. 

Spirit  Creek,  Georgia   132 

Staunton  river,  Virginia   42, 46 

Stewart's  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Stony  ereek.  Virginia   26 

Sudbury  river   20, 21 

Sugar  creek,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina   101 

Swift  creek,  North  Carolina   50 

Tallulah  river,  Georgia    137 

Tar  river,  North  Carolina   48 

Thicketty  creek,  South  Carolina   115 

Third  creek,  North  Carolina   87 

Tiger  river,  South  Carolina   Ill 

north  fork   112 

middle  fork   112 

south  fork   112 

Tobesoffkee  creek,  Georgia   155 

Toccoa  river,  Georgia   137 

Towaliga  river,  Georgia   155 

Town  fork,  North  Carolina   42 

Toxaway  river,  South  Carolina   140 

Trent  river,  North  Carolina   53 

Tugaloo  river,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia   136 

Twelve-mile  river  (or  creek),  South  Carolina   139 

Twelve-mile  creek,  South  Carolina,  into  Saluda   120 

Twenty-three-mile  creek,  South  Carolina   139 

Twenty-six-mile  creek,  South  Carolina   139 

Upper  creek,  North  Carolina   101 

Upper  Little  river,  North  Carolina,  into  Cape  Fear   63, 76 

into  Catawba   101 

Upper  Three  runs,  South  Carolina   131 

Uwharrie  river,  North  Carolina    85, 87 

Waccamaw  river,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina   83, 87 

Ward's  fork,  Virginia   44, 46 

Warrior  creek,  North  Carolina   88 

Wateree  river,  South  Carolina   90 

Wateree  creek,  South  Carolina   90 

Whitewater  river,  South  Carolina   140 

Yadkin  river,  North  Carolina   77 

Yellow  river,  Georgia   156 


831 


